Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, today launched the insightful report titled “Beyond the Field: India’s Sportstech Evolution,” a collaborative effort between the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) and Deloitte.
The launch event was attended by key dignitaries, industry leaders, and sports professionals, including Secretary (Sports) Sujata Chaturvedi, FIFS Director General Joy Bhattacharya, Deloitte Partner Prashant Rao, and FIFS CEO Neil Castelino. This event marked a significant milestone in understanding the role of technology in shaping India’s sports ecosystem.
In her address Raksha Khadse welcomed all the participants and acknowledged the commendable collaboration between FIFS and Deloitte in producing this comprehensive report that explores fan engagement and sports technology. She emphasized India’s rapidly evolving sports landscape, fueled by initiatives like Khelo India, SAI National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme), ASMITA, KIRTI, and the Fit India Movement.
Role of Technology in Transforming Sports
Khadse highlighted the transformative role of technology in advancing athlete performance, enhancing fan engagement, and contributing to the overall growth of the sports sector. She pointed out that India’s increasing sports consumption, driven by digital platforms, OTT streaming, fantasy sports, and social media, has provided new avenues for deepening fan engagement — a critical factor in making sports a mass movement in India.
The report also explores how emerging technologies like wearables, athlete management systems, and sports science tools are reshaping athlete training, injury prevention, and performance analysis. The MoS emphasized that smart stadiums, as well as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), are playing a pivotal role in enriching both in-stadium and virtual fan experiences, making sports more immersive and interactive than ever before.
Private Sector and CSR Contributions
Khadse acknowledged the vital contribution of the private sector to the growth of sports in India. Through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts and strategic partnerships, leading corporations have significantly supported the development of various sports disciplines. Noteworthy contributions include partnerships with NTPC for archery, REC for athletics, and others like ONGC, Reliance Foundation, and Glenmark that have played a key role in advancing sports infrastructure.
She also praised recent initiatives such as Odisha’s Naval Tata Academy, JSW Sports Centres, and Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), which have played a critical role in providing world-class training facilities for athletes, furthering India’s sporting aspirations.
Public-Private Partnerships and the Role of Startups
Khadse stressed the importance of continued public-private partnerships (PPP) in driving innovation and growth within the sports-tech sector. She emphasized that government initiatives such as Startup India and Make in India are pivotal in encouraging Indian entrepreneurs to develop homegrown sports technologies. The collaboration between industry leaders, tech companies, and academic institutions, she added, is essential to ensuring that India maintains its status as a global hub for sports excellence. She also underscored that regulatory clarity is crucial for the continued growth of a fair and thriving sports-tech ecosystem.
Future Outlook
In conclusion, Smt. Khadse urged stakeholders, investors, and entrepreneurs to unite in shaping the future of Indian sports. She commended Deloitte and FIFS for their efforts in creating this insightful report and encouraged further discussions and policy recommendations to guide the next phase of growth for Indian sports.
“The Indian government is committed to fostering a vibrant sports culture that stretches from grassroots to the national level,” she said. “We are optimistic about India’s future in sports, and with continued collaboration, we will achieve excellence on the global stage.”
The report launched today is expected to be a valuable tool for understanding the intersection of technology and sports in India, offering insights into how technology can further revolutionize the sports ecosystem in the country.
