This article has been contributed by Nasir Ali, Founder and CEO, Gallant Sports & Infra
India today stands at a unique inflection point. While our IT, digital, and manufacturing sectors have attracted attention as engines of growth, there is one sector that has remained a 3AM industry awake, restless, and waiting for its dawn. That sector is sports infrastructure.
From playgrounds in schools to multi-sport stadiums in cities, from grassroots training centers to elite performance facilities, India’s sports infrastructure has historically lagged behind our ambitions. But the tide is turning. A combination of demographic energy, health awareness, educational reforms, and global aspirations is positioning this sector as a powerful growth driver for the country’s future. The opportunity is massive but only if we act now.
A Sleeping Giant Ready to Awaken
Sports infrastructure in India has long suffered from fragmented investment, uneven quality, and limited access. For decades, sports were viewed as extracurricular rather than mainstream, and infrastructure spending reflected that mindset.
But consider the scale of the opportunity:
- India has over 1.5 million schools, yet only a fraction have proper playgrounds or structured sports programs.
- The fitness industry in India is valued at $12 billion (2024 estimates) and growing at over 20% annually. This directly feeds into the demand for community sports facilities.
- India has a median age of just 28 years, one of the youngest populations in the world, with an appetite for both fitness and competitive sport.
When viewed in this context, sports infrastructure is not merely a sectoral need—it is a national priority with economic, social, and health implications.
Sanvi Barjatya
Health and Education: The Twin Catalysts
Two parallel shifts are driving the urgency around sports infrastructure.
- The Health Revolution: India is simultaneously fighting two battles: undernutrition among children and rising lifestyle diseases among youth and adults. Conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are now widespread even among younger populations. Physical activity is no longer a lifestyle choice; it is a survival necessity.
Sports infrastructure playgrounds, open gyms, running tracks, community centers represent the backbone of a national health movement. Without accessible infrastructure, the call for fitness will remain aspirational rhetoric rather than actionable reality.
- The School Orientation: Education in India is undergoing a reimagination. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has placed a strong emphasis on holistic development, with sports and arts seen as integral, not peripheral. Yet for schools, the missing link remains infrastructure.
Imagine if every child in India had daily access to structured sports facilities. The result would not just be fitter children but also improved focus, teamwork, resilience, and leadership skills qualities that are invaluable in every sphere of life.
Muskaan Kapoor
Sports as a Growth Driver
Beyond health and education, sports infrastructure must be recognized as a core economic growth driver.
- Employment Generation: Every playground or stadium creates jobs, not only for construction but also for coaches, trainers, physiotherapists, nutritionists, event managers and even entrepreneurship opportunities.
- Tourism and Events: International-standard stadiums and sports complexes can attract global tournaments, fueling tourism and allied industries.
- Urban Development: Integrated sports townships and community hubs enhance quality of life, boost real estate value, and create vibrant city ecosystems.
- Sports Technology Integration: Facilities embedded with analytics, AI-based training tools, and smart access systems are opening new avenues for startups and investors.
In short, the multiplier effect of sports infrastructure is far greater than generally recognized.
Opportunities Waiting to Be Unlocked
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Governments alone cannot build the scale of infrastructure India requires. Collaborative models, where private players build and manage facilities while ensuring community access, are critical.
- School and Community Grounds: The greatest impact can be made at the grassroots. Playgrounds in schools and shared community spaces ensure both children and adults have daily access to fitness.
- Tier-2 and Tier-3 Cities: The next wave of demand will not be in metros but in smaller towns where aspirations are high and access is limited. Affordable infrastructure here can create India’s next generation of champions.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Sports is increasingly seen as a legitimate avenue for CSR spending. Companies that invest in playgrounds, training centers, or sports programs are not only fulfilling compliance but also creating lasting social impact.
- Integration of Technology: From booking systems and wearable analytics to AI-driven training, the sports infrastructure of tomorrow will be smarter and more efficient. This opens the door to both domestic innovation and global partnerships.
The Urgency of Now
The question is not whether the sports infrastructure sector in India will grow, it inevitably will. The question is whether we will capture the opportunity in time.
If investments are delayed, we risk missing out on:
- Producing athletes who can compete globally.
- Preventing a surge in lifestyle diseases.
- Creating millions of new jobs in sports, wellness, and allied industries.
- Building community cohesion in rapidly urbanizing cities.
Countries that dominate global sports- be it the U.S., China, or even smaller nations like Australia, invested heavily in infrastructure decades ago. India cannot afford to lose another generation to inadequate facilities. India’s ambition of becoming a sporting superpower, a fitter nation, and a healthier economy rests on one critical foundation: infrastructure.
This is the 3AM industry, alive, buzzing, restless, waiting for its dawn. The government, private sector, educational institutions, and civil society must come together to create an ecosystem where sports is not an afterthought but a way of life. The time to act is now. Because if we miss this moment, we risk not only our Olympic dreams but also the chance to create a healthier, more dynamic, and globally competitive India. The rise of sports infrastructure in India is inevitable. The choice before us is whether we lead its dawn or wait endlessly for the sun to rise on its own.
Kinnary Nensee