As India embarks on its journey to become a “Viksit Bharat” and a global superpower, we as a nation cannot afford to ignore sport as a game changer. Sports play a vital role in national pride, unity, and the development of a strong, healthy nation, inspiring the youth and fostering a sense of community.

Over the past decade, Sports as an Industry especially in India has changed fundamentally. Today, Sports is not just an active platform for marketing and creating branding opportunities for corporates investing in Sports but also creating value for fans across the country. Sporting leagues in India and across the world have invited valuable support and presence of corporate sector.

Sporting leagues have not only promoted sports like Kabaddi, Soccer, Hockey in India; they have also created value for all stakeholders in the fraternity. All leagues have had varying levels of success in generating fan base, inviting sponsorships and ensuring financial viability and profitability for team promoters. Fans in India also prove to be an interesting mix, with each being a loyal audience to a specific sport. With formation and popularization of Sporting leagues in India, there is now an increased opportunity for young talent at the grassroots level to showcase themselves at a global platform like IPL, PKL etc. These leagues have offered immense exposure to not just Indian players but also to some international sporting legends.

Realizing the impact of Sports on the entire economy, industry and entertainment in India, CII ER is organising an “Exclusive Interactive Session with Mr Zaheer Khan & Mr Rishabh Pant & Mr Nikolas Poorna on Role of Sports in nation building” on 7 April 2025 at ITC Sonar, Kolkata.