States need to own national sports policy to deliver

For too long, Indian sport has relied on flashes of individual brilliance. The foundational ecosystem of talent identification, coaching, grassroots facilities and governance remained neglected.

- Lloyd Mathias is an angel investor and independent director and tweets as @LloydMathias. Harsh Lailer is with the Quality Council of India. The views expressed are personal

Against this backdrop, and that of the National Sports Day (August 29), it is worth taking a look at the potential of the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025. The policy is an attempt to fix the plumbing. It treats sport not as a sideshow but as being essential to a healthy, confident, and competitive India.

By setting clear targets, aligning incentives across ministries and inviting private capital into the game, it recognises that medals are lag indicators of deeper systems. In doing so, it reframes sport as a tool for public health, education reform, and soft power. To appreciate why this shift is overdue, we need to revisit the arc of Indian sport since Independence.

When India became independent in 1947, sport was more theatre than policy. The first decade was gilded by hockey’s golden run of six consecutive Olympic golds between 1928 and 1956. However, that dominance masked the absence of systems.

Cricket’s 1983 World Cup win brought a surge of national pride, yet it also cemented the disproportionate attention and resources channelled to a single sport.

The 1982 Asian Games in Delhi briefly showcased what central planning, infrastructure spending and global exposure could achieve. Stadiums were built, volunteers trained, and urban transport upgraded — but the momentum faded as the Games ended. In the 1990s, liberalisation brought television, corporate sponsorships and professionalism to cricket, while other sports languished in underfunded federations plagued by governance issues.