India: A Global Sports Powerhouse

India is a country that takes the lead in many areas, and sports is now becoming one of them. The performance of Indian athletes during the latest Asian Games held in Hangzhou proved to the world that India is a great nation. When they set a goal, they can reach it. Things are changing rapidly in the sports sector of India, and it is great to witness a nation that has been working on its potential for so long, rising to master sports just like other areas such as technology.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the International Olympic Committee session held in October 2023 in Mumbai showed that India and its government are eager to expand and exchange knowledge in all sports. Modi's vision for India in the sports sector reflects the importance of sports for a nation. This belief of the leaders is driving change at the policy level and subsequently at the local level, creating a cultural shift in recognising sports in addition to academics, contributing to the emergence of outstanding Indian athletes. Considering all this, it is only natural that India is going to continue to rise and claim its place among other nations at the top.

The world needs to recognise that sports is not just about winning medals or breaking records; it is about building a healthy and active society. Instead of viewing it as a source of achievement or entertainment, it needs to become a way of life. Sports can save lives. Many recent medical studies attribute the health problems that people, especially younger generations, are facing due to the lack of physical activity in their lives. [ Children and teens aren’t doing enough physical activity - new study sounds a health warning (theconversation.com)] Therefore, as a society, we need to make sports a way of life again. We urgently need to encourage people to engage in sports to maintain their health, strengthen their bodies, stabilise their mental state and energise their thinking. The best way to achieve this is to start with schools & India is excelling in this regard with its new policies.

During the economic collapse in the 80s, many nations cut their budgets for sports in schools, which resulted in the lack of playgrounds and dedicated sports grounds. This led to children developing unhealthy habits, getting sick, becoming unfit, and even turning to drugs. It is crucial to realise that sports can protect future generations and build a healthy, active, and disciplined youth. To achieve this, a nation or government needs an effective plan to promote sports from an early age through schools. India's New Education Policy is a model example, which prioritises sports as an essential part of the curriculum, shifting the focus of schools and parents from technology to sports. Implementing this policy will be a significant responsibility for India and it can set an example for other nations with young demographics or scattered sports programs, to encourage children and people to engage in sports activities. 

In the world of sports, it is not only important for a country's athletes to perform well in tournaments, but also to host events to increase their presence on the global stage. As India gears up to bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championship and the 2036 Olympics, it can benefit from establishing partnerships and having conversations with previous host nations about these events. India and Qatar have been maintaining a cordial and friendly relationship for many years. Qatar's government has been actively involved in promoting and supporting development worldwide, and India is an important country in this regard. Qatar has hosted several sports events, including the World Athletics Championships and Football World Cup. The country's organisational skills have been praised worldwide for these events. However, it is essential to acknowledge that it is not only Qatari people who work tirelessly to organise and prepare these events.  

People from the Indian diaspora in Qatar are also part of these committees - administrators, managers, staff, and audiences contribute effortlessly to make these events a success. This highlights the crucial role that Indians play in Qatar's sports culture. It also indicates that India, which will soon host significant international events in addition to the Cricket World Cups, can benefit from the expertise of its people who have gained a lot of experience working on such events worldwide. Qatar would be willing to collaborate with India in organising large sports events, but India has enough experienced and capable individuals to manage such events on its own. As the President of the Asian Athletics, my goal is to showcase Asia's potential to the world, and India is an essential part of it. With the country's significant developments in recent years and after witnessing the recent sporting events, successfully hosted by India, such as the Women’s World Boxing Championship 2023, Men’s Hockey World Cup, ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup 2023, the world is looking forward to India hosting even bigger events.

With bigger sporting events come bigger responsibilities. In today’s world, which is grappling with many issues, climate change being one of the most urgent and threatening to humanity, we cannot afford to ignore responsibility, even when it comes to sports or entertainment. Sports play a significant role in our world and society. As the effects of climate change become more visible and the world looks for every possible way to reduce the negative impact on the environment, sports also has to play its due role. The extensive engagement of people of all ages in sports, from avid spectators to active participants, positions the sector uniquely to make a substantial impact on the global climate movement. This widespread involvement can also foster a deeper understanding of the urgency of climate action, potentially inspiring personal commitments to environmental change. It has to become a collective and comprehensive movement. In recent years, sports federations and organisations have recognised the issue and started working groups to find ways to reduce the climate impact in the sector. [Source: Sports organisations commit to safeguarding nature under new framework (unep.org)] We, in sports, need to find a working plan to eliminate habits and practices that harm the environment and climate action. We should review the way our stadiums are built, how associated buildings are constructed, sources of electricity, or even the chairs installed in the stadiums.

As India creates a larger focus on climate action, locally and internationally, it could become an excellent model for other nations to follow in introducing climate consciousness in organising sporting events. As a large nation with a growing economy and population, India has the opportunity to emphasise climate and environment in sports as it prepares to host international sporting events with many infrastructure developments. This emphasis could become a learning model for others to follow.