Carpe Diem

We celebrated India’s 70^th Independence Day this year on the 15^th of August. A huge contingent from India is out there in Rio, Brazil for Olympics and yet all we seem to be talking about is increasing earnings for our farmers, of including Dalits in our everyday lives and of fighting battles with terrorists in Kashmir.

We talk from the ramparts of the Red Fort like we are still under the clutches of East India Company. It would be the day when our Prime Minister isn’t talking about the malaises due to open defecation, due to unemployed youth and due to corruption.

We really need to seize that day! Carpe Diem..

I wait for the day when our Minister for Sports is not embarrassing us with his selfies and antics of his undisciplined entourage; for the day when a Shobha De’s pessimistic tweet prediction doesn’t come true; and for the day when our world number 1 shuttler doesn’t blame her knee for her loss from a 61^st seed.

I wait for the day when at least halfway into Olympics extravaganza we have atleast a couple of golds in our kitty; when more athletes participate in more number of games; and when the number of players travelling far exceeds that of the accompanying government babus.

We need to seize that day! Carpe Diem..

Can we not have a team that plays seven rugby, beach ball, hand ball, that pole vaults? Can we not have a better system of sports in India where parents are not paranoid about their kids’ career when they choose sports over academics? We need to find that day when facilities in schools are stretched to accommodate children who want to pursue sports seriously and not as a 6-8 pm outing; when parents do not have to worry about their kids’ diet which gets taken care of by schools; and when there are ample monetary opportunities in the field of sports.

I dream of a nation whose PM addresses the nation from a modern sporting arena and encourages its youth to go play and make money and bring laurels to their country. If you don’t believe in my dream, watch the happiness and sunshine on the faces of Michael Phelps’ mother and wife, you will love it. Imagine the feeling of procuring 23 gold medals across multiple Olympic presences. I want that sun shine over India.

I want India to seize that day! And seize it real soon!

Carpe Diem...

- Ms. Monica Mor, Sr. Faculty, INLEAD 

New Sporting Landscape in India

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