Infrastructure and grass-root level activity needed to grow sports industry: Raman
Over years various leagues like Indian Premier League, Indian Super League etc, have helped accelerate the growth of the Indian sports industry. But there is lot more that can be done in order to make India come in par with other countries like the US or United Kingdom, believes CEO of Reliance Sports, Sundar Raman.
Raman who was the speaker at the Rotary Club of Bombay’s Speaker Series, said that growth in Indian sports can be seen with the increasing number of viewership not just on television sets but digital platforms. There is a billion plus viewing that is taking place through digital platforms, added Raman. This digital shift is across rural India along with urban India which is vital for companies that are presently associated (or plan to associate in future) with sporting events.
Apart from evolution of pro leagues, Raman also believes that there is growing need to conduct grass-root level activities. He told Free Press Journal, “For us to develop Indian sports, school and colleges have to take up the call on grass-root level activity. Reliance Foundation mounted a substantially large initiative where schools and colleges have taken up sports. Such things are getting noticed and many schools are very supportive of the initiative.”
Seeing this change, the company has plans of expanding. “Last year we did football in 8 cities and this year we are expanding it to 17 cities and we are doing athletics in 8 cities,” he added.
Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) member said that if sports has to grow there should be decent level of infrastructure support. He stressed that it is not just about sport venues but about infrastructure like play grounds and training centres for kids. “It is not about building more stadiums but more infrastructure,” said Indian Premier League’s (IPL) former COO Raman. He added that there is a need for more area for good quality space.
When quizzed about injury and need for awareness about it, Raman stated that there are substantive efforts that are made in the field and there is enough awareness about it today. Having said, he goes on, “Sports and injury—you cannot keep one away from other. At earlier stages of injury if there is sufficient guidance about injury, the impact of injury would be lesser. There is opportunity for better coaching and body dynamics here.”
The sports science and medicines has to evolve and it will take a lot of time, which Raman also agrees with. “If there are enough sports medicines then there will be more professionals and there will be lot of opportunities.” The question is about ecosystem which provides such opportunities.