Think
of a sport and it has taken roots in India. Well I ain’t talking about sports
that would be unconventional for India like Lacrosse or Rugby. I’m talking
about sports which Indian’s have been playing for decades, not necessarily
excelling in, but at least their names figure in daily conversations. I am
talking about Soccer AKA Football, Chess, Lawn Tennis, Boxing, Wrestling, Table
Tennis, Badminton, Kabaddi, our universal favourite Cricket and of course our
national sport, Hockey. What has brought about this positive upswing in talks
about sports, about career in sports, about winning in international
tournaments, about big budget marketing sponsors, etc.?
The Evolution
The
narrative for sports has evolved over the past decade or so when the IPL or
Indian Premier League revived interest in cricket. It introduced us to a new
form of energy in a game that was losing its sheen. The kind of high voltage
drama that we started witnessing in every IPL match brought people back to the
stadiums and, cricket and cricketers bounced back into our list of favourites. While
this tournament has had its fair share of controversies, it served as a
harbinger for many other leagues. They may be spawns of the devilish IPL, but
they are making just the right noises to encourage interest in other sporting
activities.
The Outcome
We
see the resurgence of interest in Kabaddi via Pro Kabbadi league (PKL), in
Football via Indian Soccer league (ISL), in Tennis via International Premier
Tennis League (IPTL), and in Boxing thanks to laudable international level
performances of Mary Kom and Vijender Singh. India today is a nation brimming
with confidence and ambition with Venture capitalists, businessmen and HNIs who
are willing to invest in leagues. We are at the cusp of a Sporting nation were
careers in sports is next in line.
Sports Industry in
India
India
has a $2 billion sports industry aiming towards a $20 billion valuation in
2020. It’s not governmental intervention that has spurred growth in this
industry but the participation of private players. The success of these leagues
come from the effort and capital put in by venture capitalists, bankers,
businesspersons, actors, international technical crew and an evolving media.
The various playgrounds, stadia and sporting facilities that already exist
would see a higher number of children using them, thereby fostering a sporting
culture.
With
a population of 1.2 billion, and a mere 5% showing inclination towards sports,
we have a vast pool of talent that needs to be tapped. Sports industry will
grow in India and we will see a change in attitude towards all types of
sporting activities, especially with sponsorship money coming in relatively
more easily than before. We would like to witness a fledgling industry which
has been primarily cricket based to evolve into a sunrise industry with
presence in the capital market as well.
Monica Mor
Sr. Faculty, INBM,
INLEAD
Images Courtesy: Google Images
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