- The Way Forward for Indian Sports is a Robust Public-Private Partnership – Parth Jindal Founder JSW Sports
- This Olympics we have Five Girls and One Boy heading to Olympics for Wrestling. Winning an Olympic Medal transforms not only the life of the athletes but also the lives of their families, society, and village. – Sakshi Malik, Olympics Bronze Medalist
- Since the 2016 Rio Olympics, everyone’s mindset is that we also want to go to the Olympics, which wasn’t there before – Dipa Karmakar.
- Neeraj Chopra’s Gold Medal win was a Game-Changer for us – Priya Mohan, Athelete
The Olympic spirit took center-stage at an event ‘An Olympic Dream: Sport in India,’ a panel discussion, hosted by the JSW Group, Asia Society India Centre, and the Consulate General of France in Mumbai at the Museum of Solutions. The event witnessed the attendance of Parth Jindal, Founder, JSW Sports along with Alexandra de Navacelle de Coubertin (President of the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association), Inakshi Sobti (CEO, Asia Society India Centre), Sohini Chattopadhyay (Moderator – Journalist and national award-winning film critic), Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet (Consul General of France in Mumbai), Sangita Jindal (Chair of the Board, Asia Society India Centre and Chairperson, JSW), Sakshi Malik, Dipa Karmakar, Priya Mohan and Tanvi Jindal (Founder, Leap Gymnastics & Museum of Solutions)
Parth Jindal, Founder of JSW Sports, spoke at the event, stating that a robust public-private partnership is believed to be the way forward for Indian sports. It was noted that while the government’s reach and funding are unparalleled, the private sector adds essential elements such as sports science, nutrition, and technology, thereby enhancing the government’s efforts. Over the past decade, this collaboration has flourished. Initiatives like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the Mission Olympic Cell, and Khelo India were highlighted as excellent examples of this synergy, developed in consultation with the private sector.
Two main challenges in Indian sports were identified: insufficient private sector participation and persistent issues within sports federations, which continue to suffer from political interference. The private sector primarily operates within existing government infrastructure, with a few notable exceptions like the Inspire Institute of Sport. To truly elevate Indian sports, it was suggested that at least 10 such centers are needed across the country. It was also noted that with the Paris Olympics approaching, the collaboration between the government and the private sector is becoming more concentrated and symbiotic than ever.
Parth Jindal, Founder, JSW Sports, further elaborated about Neeraj Chopra, “One crucial aspect of our sports journey has been the emergence of heroes who inspire the next generation. From the three heroes of 2008, we saw six more in 2012, followed by two in 2016. In Tokyo, our hockey team and six other medallists stood out, along with the exceptional Neeraj Chopra in track and field. Each hero, like Vijender Singh in boxing or Sakshi Malik in wrestling, ignites dreams and possibilities in their respective sports. Neeraj Chopra’s achievements in javelin, a sport previously deemed beyond our genetic capabilities, have paved the way for future champions. Now, we have three Indian men’s javelin throwers heading to Paris, a testament to our evolving athletic prowess.”
“During the pandemic, Indian athletes struggled to obtain visas for overseas training. We reached out to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, advocating for urgent visa approvals for Neeraj Chopra and Bajrang Punia. The government swiftly responded, granting Neeraj a Schengen visa for France and Bajrang a visa for Russia, allowing them to participate in key tournaments leading up to the Tokyo Olympics. We prioritized these athletes based on our nine years of experience in sports development, believing they were India’s best bets for medals. Both Neeraj and Bajrang proved us right by winning medals in Tokyo.“
Olympics Bronze Medallist, Sakshi Malik present at the event said “An Olympic dream is not just an athlete’s dream; it’s the dream of an entire family. Winning an Olympic medal transforms not only the life of the athlete but also the lives of their family, society, and village. After my medal, significant changes occurred. The Chhotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak, where I trained, went from having a tin roof to becoming an AC hall. A stadium was even built in my village and named after me. An Olympic medal creates numerous opportunities, especially for children, allowing them to train in better facilities.
“The craze for wrestling in Haryana has surged. Everywhere one goes, a stadium can be found every ten minutes, with girls training in each one. The old mindset that girls couldn’t wrestle has dramatically changed. The misconceptions that girls are impure and shouldn’t participate in wrestling have been debunked. For the first time, five girls are going to the Olympics for wrestling, while only one boy is going. After my medal win, wrestling is no longer entered merely with thoughts of securing a job or a benefit. The goal of winning an Olympic medal is now the starting point. This shift in mindset is incredibly inspiring.”
Indian gymnast,Dipa Karmakar mentioned, “As an athlete, the fourth place can be the worst place to be in. Not just for me, any athlete who finishes in fourth place can never sleep. The fourth place is always going to be the fourth place, and the ones who win a medal will always remain as medallists. So, the best thing to do is to think about what better we can do from here on.”
She spoke about the culture of gymnastics in Tripura state, noting that many changes have occurred since the 2016 Rio Olympics. She remarked, “People had a mindset that they couldn’t go into gymnastics. In Tripura, there have been a lot of changes. For example, the infrastructure, the vaults, and the foam pits, which are very important, were not there before. After the 2016 Olympics, they built the foam pit, and a lot of equipment came in. The children’s interest level increased significantly. In my view, after the 2016 Rio Olympics, a lot of people’s mindsets changed, which was very important. But now, with support from organizations like JSW at the grassroots level, our Olympic medal count will soon be in double digits, starting with the upcoming Paris Olympics. I wish all the athletes the best and hope they inspire the next generation.”
Priya Mohan, Indian athlete said, “I believe that every athlete follows their own path to success. While most peak around 24 or 25 years old, seeing Alison Phillips compete at 35 is truly inspiring to me. Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal victory along with India’s record haul of three medals at the Olympics transformed our mindset. It showed us that achieving such success is possible for us too.”
