Innovating The Sports Ecosystem

Technology is rapidly transforming grassroots sports, bringing new opportunities for athletes and enthusiasts across the country. Innovations are enhancing training methods, improving performance analysis, and increasing access to sports at the community level. As these advancements continue to evolve, they are setting the stage for a new era in sports development, encouraging greater participation and excellence from the ground up.

In a panel discussion held at the IITM Sports Tech Startup Conclave 2024, industry experts explored the immense potential that lies in grassroots sports development and the role of technological innovations in India.

Yannick Colaco, Co-Founder of Fancode, spoke about the transformative impact of grassroots initiatives, recounting his experience with the NBA’s focus on youth engagement as a pivotal example.

“David Stern always believed deeply in the power and impact of grassroots sports. He was obsessed with the idea of growing basketball globally through grassroots programs, and this philosophy strongly guided our approach in India,” Colaco shared, highlighting the long-term vision that has driven the success of such initiatives.

Colaco’s approach involved a strategic shift in thinking—from the arduous task of convincing individual parents to targeting key decision-makers like school principals. “Instead of attempting to convince two million parents individually, we strategically targeted principals to get entire batches of kids involved in basketball,” he explained. This innovative method led to the successful execution of the Junior NBA program, which has now reached an astounding 80 lakh kids across 30 cities in India, becoming one of the largest grassroots sports programs in the country.

Shyam Sivaramakrishnan, representing Banyan Board, discussed the important role of technology in sports, particularly focusing on the evolving field of data analytics. “There’s a significant gap in the availability of affordable sports analytics tools,” he noted, emphasising the critical need for accessible technology. “We are working diligently to democratise access to these essential tools, which are fundamental for improving sports practices and training across all levels.” His focus is on providing free or affordable software solutions to bridge this gap, thereby supporting aspiring analysts and sports professionals in their journey toward excellence.

Parminder Gill, Co-Founder of Sportzvillage and Edusports, spoke about scaling sports participation and the barriers to achieving this. “With 250 million kids in India, scaling sports participation is a daunting task. Technology can play a crucial role in enhancing curriculum execution and unlocking more value on the demand side.” He emphasised the need for a balanced approach to both supply and demand in sports education and participation.

Prithvi Ramakrishnan, CEO and Founder of Sports Paddock, shared insights into creating organised sports opportunities for people of all ages. “Our platform provides an organised space for people to play sports, whether they are eight years old or sixty,” Ramakrishnan explained. He highlighted the importance of connecting people with sports to foster a deeper engagement and enhance the overall sports ecosystem.

Gaurav Bahal, CEO of Sportzworks, discussed the impact of remote production on sports broadcasting. “Remote production has revolutionised how we handle live sports broadcasts. With technology making data cheaper and travel more expensive, remote production is the future for sports outside of cricket,” he observed. The need for India to leverage its strengths in knowledge processing to advance remote sports production.