Ministry, SAI to introduce franchise national leagues

NEW DELHI: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India (SAI) have decided to organise franchise-based professional national leagues in several key sports disciplines at the grassroots and developmental levels.

- Avishek Roy

These leagues—they are aimed at identifying, nurturing and broad-basing talent—will be backed by corporates while the National Sports Federations (NSF) will provide the technical conduct.

"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," Sports Ministry officials aware of the development told HT.