In his keynote address on Day 1 of PlayCom 2025: Business of Sports Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya called for sport to become a national movement. Urging a holistic approach that goes beyond elite programmes, he said “When 140 crore Indians move forward with collective resolve, the nation moves 140 crore steps ahead.”
Dr. Nirmala Lakshman, Chairman of The Hindu Group, underlined the summit’s larger purpose. “Today we turn our gaze to the economics, governance, and innovation driving global sport. We hope to foster meaningful dialogue, share best practices, and explore solutions that can strengthen India’s sporting future,” she said.
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Indian Olympic Association president and legendary sprinter P.T. Usha pressed for a cultural shift towards grassroots sport. “Talent is not confined to big cities. It exists in villages and small towns. What our young athletes need is opportunity, proper training, nutrition, and encouragement. When we build such a culture, medals will follow naturally,” she said.
Unveiling of Sportstar’s special edition on the World Para Athletics Championships.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR/The Hindu
Unveiling of Sportstar’s special edition on the World Para Athletics Championships.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR/The Hindu
The day also saw IndianOil chairman Arvinder Singh Sahney unveil Sportstar’s special edition on the World Para Athletics Championships. Paralympic Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia reflected on how far para sport had come: “Back in 2004, I had to fund my own trip to the Athens Paralympics. Today, corporate houses like IndianOil are stepping forward. That shows how much India has changed.”
Panel insights
Governance reform dominated one of the morning sessions. Kunal (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports) said: “The National Sports Governance Act is built upon three core pillars: athlete centricity, good governance and global alignment. It addresses the issues needed for federations to function effectively and align with international regulations.” Legal expert Vidushpat Singhania added, “There is going to be more stability in the federations, which is actually the major requirement, especially if they are going to bid for major events like the Olympics or world championships.”
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In another panel, Ramkumar Subramanian (Director, Collage Design), said that sports infrastructure should follow an athlete-first design approach while high-performance consultant Rushdee Warley noted that creating an environment where athletes feel at home can increase their performance rates.
In the Stadiums Without Walls panel, fan engagement was the focus, with Siddharth Sharma (Head, Viewership and Monetisation Initiative – Sports, JioStar), declaring: “The fan wants to be the director of his own field. The more you empower them, the more deep their experience will be. Veer Damaraju (EVP, Technology, DAZN India) concurred, “Fans want to be immersed, informed, and in the middle of the game. That is where AI is shifting control from editorial teams to fans themselves.”
The opening day struck a balance between celebration and challenge: India hosting the World Para Athletics Championships for the first time is a milestone, but lasting change, speakers agreed, will depend on governance reform, grassroots investment, and innovation that sustains athletes and fans beyond the headlines.
Published on Sep 12, 2025