Championing a Nation: Mansukh Mandaviya’s Call to Action for Sports at PlayCom 2025

On Friday, Union Sports Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated the PlayCom 2025: Business of Sports Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. This event was organized by The Hindu Group’s Sportstar in collaboration with global consulting firm KPMG India. During the summit, he also released the KPMG Sportstar India Business of Sports Report and inaugurated the Sports Tech and Manufacturing Expo, showcasing innovations and collaborations within the sports industry.

In his address, which included the presence of Indian Olympic Association President P.T. Usha, The Hindu Group Chairman Dr. Nirmala Lakshman, and Sportstar’s Editor Ayon Sengupta, Minister Mandaviya emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive and inclusive strategy to revitalize India’s sports sector. He praised Sportstar for facilitating essential discussions on sports, sports science, and athlete welfare. Affirming P.T. Usha’s earlier remarks, he stated, “As P.T. Usha ji rightly noted, sports is a way of life.”

Mandaviya highlighted government efforts such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which provides world-class facilities to elite athletes, as part of a broader strategic vision to advance Indian sports. He shared that India aims to be among the top five sporting nations globally by 2047, the centenary of India’s Independence, as part of the nation’s development goals. The National Sports Policy takes inspiration from international best practices while being rooted in India’s unique strengths, emphasizing governance, infrastructure, sports science, and talent development.

The Minister also discussed India’s diversity as a rich resource for developing talent and the importance of building an ecosystem that provides every talented youth an opportunity. Governance reforms were also a focus, aiming to centralize athletes in decision-making processes and increase women’s representation. More than 30,000 athletes employed under sports quotas are encouraged to continue participating in sports and transition into mentoring roles.

Grassroots initiatives like Khelo India and Fit India were highlighted, with the Sunday on Cycle movement growing from 250 to over 8,000 cycling clubs, demonstrating the nation’s zest for sports. Looking forward, he envisioned transforming streets into playgrounds and turning stages into platforms for India’s athletes.

Minister Mandaviya stressed a collective national movement towards sports, supported by citizens’ involvement, suggesting that the joint efforts of all Indians could propel the nation forward. He congratulated Sportstar for organizing the summit and emphasized studying its insights to advance India’s sports sector.

PlayCom 2025 Sponsors:

• State Partners: Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), Tamil Nadu Champions Foundation, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Government of Punjab, Government of Odisha
• Associate Partners: ONGC, IndianOil, Havas Play, Tribes
• Gaming Partner: Zupee Studio
• Adrenaline Partner: JK Tyre Motorsport
• Partners: Great SportsTech, CricViz, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Centre for Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA), IIT Madras, Gallant Sports & Infra Ltd, STAG Global, Sporting India
• Nutrition Partner: The Whole Truth
• Talent Partner: IOS Sports & Entertainment
• Broadcast Partner: NDTV 24×7
• PR Partner: WordsWork Communications Consulting
• Industry Partner: SportsCom

Published on September 12, 2025.