Sports is not just about winning medals, says Leander Paes

The commercial growth of the sports sector over the past few years has led to a rise in demand for trained professionals.

A report commissioned by Sporjo - an online education, training & employability company focused on Sports, has revealed the transformation the Indian sports landscape has gone through in the past decade, especially with the advent of leagues and noticeable performance of Indian athletes on the world stage, which has propelled consumer interest to an all-time high in Sports. Ace tennis legend Leander Paes seemed happy with the findings of the report.

Observing the growth of the industry across parameters reported by the study Strategic Advisor of Sporjo, Leander Paes said, “The evolution of sports and the refinement of professional athletes over the past few years have created a valid need for skilled professionals that understand the nuances of the industry. India’s performance at the Olympics has put Sports at the centre of discussions. Such results are a big boost to showcase that sports is a great career choice - be it as a pro athlete or as a professional in the sports arena. It’s not just about winning medals, it’s about creating jobs and opportunities in our country."

Leander Paes remarked, "This report by Sporjo on Sports Careers in India shines a bright light not only on the growth of the sports ecosystem and the rising demand for professionals but also on the various steps that need to be taken to fill that gap. Sporjo is doing a stellar job of leading the way towards creating an ecosystem of qualified professionals to support the Indian Sports industry”

As per the report, the sports market in India was estimated at approximately INR 100 billion in FY 2020, making 0.1% of the country's GDP. The sports industry has grown at a CAGR of 14% over FY16-20, approximately 1.4 times corresponding to the CAGR of the Indian television advertising industry. The report also noted the potential for further expansion as the contribution of the industry in India's GDP is lower than the global average of 0.5%.

The report also delved into key drivers that have resulted in the growth of the industry. The growth of sports media and sponsorships at a CAGR of 14% over the past five years, reaching INR 95 billion by FY20, with cricket estimating a contribution of approximately 70%. The gate fee - revenue generated by the ticket sales, has also seen a growth in India over the years, estimating at approximately INR 5 billion in FY20, with cricket, once again being the key contributor with approximately 75% of the total number.

The study cited the growth in India's league ecosystem across various sports, increase in sports consumption across TV and digital platforms, and increase in government and private initiatives as being additional key drivers of this growth.

The study estimated the growth of the sports industry at a CAGR of 9.5 percent from FY20-24 to INR 150 billion, keeping in mind that the industry in India has seen a decline in FY21 due to the Covid guidelines and restrictions. The recovery is estimated to be V shaped in the coming years as evidenced by the success of IPL 2020.

Speaking on the report, Sporjo Founder & CEO, G. Srinivasan said, "This study has highlighted some key areas in the Indian sports market that are expected to see massive inflation in the next decade. It has also highlighted the need for bridging the gap between the jobs in Indian sports markets and the available resources at disposal. The aim while commissioning this report was to make a strong case to the Sports industry as well as the public at large about the growth that the industry is poised for, highlight employment avenues and drive home the fact that a sports job is more than a viable career option."

"Enabling and empowering the community with the correct information and tools to not only follow their passion but also be job ready is what we hope to achieve. We aim to aid and create an ecosystem that breeds successful individuals in the field of sports across all mediums to take India to the next level.”

The study further cited that the jobs across Professional sports segments - listed as Sports Governance, League Ecosystem, Sports Training and Infrastructure, Sports Technology Companies, Associated Sports Sub-segments, and Sports Retail - and in Amateur segments - listed as Grassroot sports & corporate events will see a steady rise by FY24.

The study concluded that the commercial growth of the sports sector over the past few years has led to a rise in demand for trained professionals across the sports value chain, but due to limited sports management training being offered, there is a widening 'quality gap' in the industry.

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