The government is taking significant steps to promote grassroots sports development. The Ministry of Sports and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have unveiled a pioneering initiative to introduce franchise-based professional national leagues across various sports, targeting grassroots and developmental levels.

These leagues aim to identify, nurture, and expand the talent pool in sports, with corporate houses providing financial backing and National Sports Federations (NSFs) overseeing technical operations.

Initially, these leagues will be held in disciplines where age-group national leagues are already conducted under SAI’s ‘ASMITA—Sports For Women’ programme.

The structure of the new franchise-based leagues will vary depending on the sport. While national sports federations currently organise age-group championships, the leagues introduced by SAI will complement, not compete with, existing professional leagues. 

While conversing with HT, Sports Ministry officials stated, “The government aims to create a sustainable and inclusive model for sports excellence by aligning the interests of the corporate sector with the objectives of sports development. The national leagues are expected to generate interest in sports, attract investment, and inspire youngsters to take up competitive sport as a career choice”.

SAI and the ministry will soon make a blueprint and complete the organisational framework of these leagues. 

The government will offer ecosystem support for organising the national leagues, creating the framework for their operation, and encouraging corporates to back the initiative.

The leagues organised by SAI will not overlap with those managed by the federations.

A sports ministry official said, “The ministry and SAI will not venture into cases where there is enough competitive exposure to athletes. In cases where there is scope, the Sports Ministry and SAI will organise it as a joint effort.”. 

To bolster the initiative, the ministry plans to involve corporates from the sports academy ecosystem. Talented athletes from the leagues will receive support similar to that provided under the Khelo India programme.