“FUTURE OF SPORTS IN INDIA”
PROJECT REPORT
Submitted
In
English
By
KARNIKA GUPTA
With
Ms. PARUL SACHDEVA MA’AM
As Guide
Department of English
Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Indore
2023-24
Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Indore
Department of English
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the report entitled “FUTURE
OF SPORTS IN INDIA” is a satisfactory account of
project work based on the syllabus carried out by
Ms. KARNIKA GUPTA. It may be accepted as a
partial fulfillment of the internal assessment.
External Examiner Project Guide
Principal
CONTENT
1) Objective
2) Action plan
3) Introduction
4) Sports industry
5) Changes
6) Improvements that can be done
7) India’s performance
8) Survey
9) Student reflection
OBJECTIVE
I selected this topic because I am determined to:
1) enhance my knowledge to a greater extent,
2) stay ahead of the curve with changing trends,
3) gain a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by
sportspersons.
4) Pinpoint the areas that require improvements
ACTION PLAN
Being a student in India with an interest in sports, I am of
the opinion that several vital measures could be employed
in the direction of growing and progressing sports in our
country. First, there is a demand to raise funds and
resource for sports to be played at grassroots. This entails
provision of funds for school sports, organizing inter-school
competitions, and having adequate facilities and
equipment for use. Promotion of sport also in the curricula
can develop the fitness and health culture beginning from
the kindergarten level.
Secondly, working with local communities and sports
clubs is important. Existing sports organizations can build
partnerships that can help the organizations to leverage on
their expertise and resources. This partnership can also
help in discovering and grooming gifted youngsters who
could be ignored.
Lastly, holding sports competitions at the college and
university level can serve as a way to pave a way for
talented athletes to play at higher levels. These events
may serve as opportunities for identifying and nurturing
talent, which could lead to the creation and enhancement
of a university sporting culture.
The other important aspect is advocating for a place of
sports in national policies and initiatives. It entails
partnering with schools, the government, and sports
agencies to ensure that people appreciate the role of
sports in the comprehensive development of a person and
a country.
Finally, as a student, the spreading of awareness
concerning the advantages of sports and inculcating
active participation amongst peers is crucial. Through
organizing sports’ festivals, seminars, and workshops, the
students can come up with positive sports culture within
their institutions.
INTRODUCTION
Sport is friendship, Sport is health, Sport is
education, Sport is life, and Sports bring the
world together.
India is a country of over a billion people. Imagine the
talent, capabilities, and potential we have in our store.
Surprisingly, even after being a storehouse of human
resources, only about 2% of our masses participate in
sports regularly. Is it the lack of opportunities, or does
the interest of the Indian society lack interest in sports?
Or has it something to do with the affordability and
availability of proper guidance to aspiring
sportspersons? From this information, let’s try to find
the answer of these questions.
SPORTS INDUSTRY
India is a storehouse of talent, especially in the field of sports. But this
talent hasn’t been explored and given its due limelight. It could be so
because of a lack of motivation and the support of political leaders and,
most significantly, the recognition by the public.
In ancient India, sports were given due importance by both parents and
teachers. People back then understood that indulging in sports was essential
for a child's physical and mental well-being. Activities like martial arts,
archery, swordsmanship, lifting weights etc., were much respected. During
those times, students were asked to engage in friendly spars as well. The
evidence of the active sportsmanship in India can also be found in the epics
of Mahabharata and Ramayana.
But in the last few decades, parents have stopped giving much importance
to physical well-being and are concerned only about their children's
academic excellence. In case they do take any interest, then the child’s
fascination must be towards Cricket.
This bias of parents is one of the major reasons which thwarted the growth
of this much deserving industry. Furthermore, the ignorance of the sports
authorities also played a part in the depletion of the popularity of other
forms of sport in India. But in the last 3 to 5 years, this trend has seen a
shift.
The Indian sports scene is taking a keen interest in all kinds of sports,
resulting in the growth of participation, viewership and sports-related
industries. India’s improving economic climate, rising disposable incomes,
and changing outlook fuel the increase in demand for sports-related goods
and services.
The famous Indian Premier League, estimated at $5.3 billion, along with
other leagues, are also contributing their shares, which has helped the
Indian sports Industry touch the $2.7 billion mark from $1.3 billion five
years ago. Several entrepreneurs have made fantastic models like "Sports
Village Schools" that enable schools to adopt sports education and play the
role of a helping hand in carving out new faces to be introduced to the
world competition.
CHANGES
India is an emerging market for sports. The industry has
experienced rapid growth across all segments in the last few years.
There are millions of sports enthusiasts in India and this number is
set to spiral with the increasing viewership of these sports on
television.
The Indian government has made significant investments in
athletic facilities and training, which will pump out more
athletes and sportspersons in times to come.
The booming sports industry has increased employment
opportunities as well. It has also given hope to young people
who dream of competing internationally someday.
The Indian government foretells a meteoric rise on the world
stage with more champion athletes emerging from the Khelo
India system. It focuses on modernising sports infrastructure
at the grassroots level while providing scientific training to
young athletes, all with the help of technology.
Khelo India has also brought significant changes in the minds
of people concerning their perception of sports. It assists
players during their school life and motivates them to build a
career in sports. It provides a scholarship of 5 lakh rupees per
annum for a stint of 8 years, which will help players to
develop their skills from a very young age, providing central
assistance to our future heroes. Case in point, 16-year-old
Nisar Ahmed from a slum in the national capital, who missed
breaking the world record in the 100m sprint by 0.2 sec and
has now been selected as one of the 14 athletes who would be
trained by Usain Bolt’s coach in Jamaica.
IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN BE DONE
The changing mind-set of the Indian masses has given a new lease
of life to the sports industry in the country. Still, we have a long
way to go. There should be more social acceptance and
opportunities for people who want to participate and make a career
in sports. We also need to figure out how to keep the essence of
sport alive with the changing times.
There are many changes that Indian sports must implement before
they can truly progress.
There should be adequate infrastructure, equipment and human resources in schools and
colleges to guide and train students in sports.
Awareness of sports should be given to children and young people.
Sports are not just for winning medals. Children and youth need to
know the positive impact of sports on physical and mental health.
When they know the importance of sports, they will more likely to
take up a sport.
School students should have a facility to guide them on which sport
suits best for them based on their physical characteristics and also
abilities.
There should be a mechanism to trace the talented kids so that they
can be trained well. When they are given proper training from a
young age, the path to the top will become much easier for them.
Regular competitions in sports for all ages encourage them to excel
in the sport of their choice.
In India, there is so much support and financial incentives for the top
sportspersons, but the same is not true for those who are struggling to
rise to the top. Private companies such as Tata, Reliance foundation &
JSW are investing at the grassroots level. Moreover, the Khelo India
scheme was started to do the same. But this is not sufficient. There is
a need for more investments at the ground level. Public-Private
partnership also works well in improving the sports infrastructure.
Coaches are the backbone of the sports system. More coaches should
be hired and they should be paid well. The job of coaches should be
made more lucrative to attract the best talent. Along with that, there is
a need for more investments in training coaches.
INDIA’S PERFORMANCE
India has always been a sporting powerhouse. It is
not surprising to see India winning its all-time
highest number of medals in the Olympic Games
and commonwealth games in recent times. With
improved practice facilities and support,
sportspersons have proven their mettle in front of
the world.
A wind of change -- which started to blow at the
turn of the 21st century -- swept across most
sports disciplines. Players are taking a keen
interest in other sports categories, like boxing,
wrestling, archery, hockey etc. and excelling at
them as well!
At the Commonwealth games 2022, Indian
athletes won 61 medals, 22 gold’s, 16 silvers and
23 bronze. Sanket Sargar was the first Indian to
win a medal in Birmingham, bagging a silver in the
men's 55kg weightlifting event. Mirabai Chanu was
the first Indian to win gold at CWG 2022, while
Jeremy Lalrinnunga was the first Indian man to
clinch the top podium at Birmingham. Sudhir won
the first medal for India, a gold, in para-sports at
the CWG 2022. He became the champion in the
para powerlifting men's heavyweight category.
Along with all the medals, these sportspersons
brought immense pride to the nation.
Survey
The survey conducted on the future of sports in India
revealed a wide range of perspectives and aspirations
among the participants. Sports hold a significant place
in the hearts and minds of individuals across various
demographics. There is a resounding consensus on the
importance of sports for personal development,
national pride, and community well-being.
According to the survey, the future of sports in India
looks promising, with a notable increase in interest
following the 2021 Olympics. It's not just cricket, but
other sports as well, that are gaining popularity in the
country. The government is providing facilities to
athletes to help them excel in their respective games.
People believe that India has a bright future in sports.
Some people also mentioned that parental support is
crucial for an athlete to succeed, and there has been a
significant shift in parents' attitudes towards sports.
The government has also changed its mindset and is
now spending more over the past few years to foster
sports in India.
Student reflection
As a sports enthusiast and a student, I have had many
enlightening conversations with my sports teacher
about the past, present, and future of sports in India. It
has been a great experience learning about the
challenges they faced during their time and the
changes that have taken place.
In the past, sports was not given much importance by
the government and parents due to the focus on
education and the lack of advancement in sports.
However, after the 2021 Olympics, people have started
participating in many international tournaments and
giving extraordinary performances. The government
has also started showing more interest by introducing
various schemes and scholarships for sportspersons.
Parents and teachers are now encouraging students to
excel in sports.
Delhi Government is planning to build sports schools
in India to provide opportunities and help students
build their careers in sports. In conclusion, I believe
there is a bright future for India in sports, and athletes
have a great chance to excel.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.groupdiscussionideas.com/how-to-
improve-the-standard-of-sports-in-india/
https://www.drishtiias.com/blog/the-future-of-
sports-in-india
https://blog.playo.co/sports-in-india-how-
things-have-changed-in-the-past-decade/
