Has India Enhanced Its Focus on Sports Policy and Investment?

New Delhi, Aug 30 (NationPress) Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri stated on Saturday that India has significantly increased its policy focus and public funding for sports. He emphasized, “In this regard, India’s oil and gas PSUs have played a pioneering role.”

Puri made these comments during an event hosted by the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) in collaboration with the Delhi Soccer Association and Sudeva Academy, celebrating National Sports Day, as reported by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Participants included Sabeena Chowdhary, Member Secretary of PSPB, and Anuj Gupta, President of Sudeva Delhi FC.

Discussing the remarkable changes in India’s sports landscape, Puri remarked: “Since 2014, there has been a concerted effort to mold India into a ‘sporting nation’. There is now profound support for aspiring athletes to achieve elite-pathway success, encompassing not just funding, but also the entire ecosystem's development, including nutrition, sports science, and coaching.

He pointed out that the historic National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 was passed in the last session of Parliament, aimed at reforming the governance structure of sports federations and organizations, thereby enhancing accountability.

“The results reflect the success of these transformative policies,” the Minister noted. “The past decade has proven this: we achieved record medal counts of 107 in the 2023 Asian Games and 29 medals (7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze) in the 2024 Para Asian Games.”

Recognizing PSPB’s contributions, Hardeep Singh Puri stated, “Among the many stakeholders who have facilitated this transformation, special recognition goes to PSPB, which is one of the largest sports promotion entities in the country, comprising 16 member organizations and supporting competitions across 19 sports disciplines.”

Over the years, athletes associated with PSPB have consistently brought glory to India, with 151 national awardees being PSPB sportspersons, including 3 Padma Bhushan, 13 Padma Shri, 10 Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, 1 Dronacharya Award, 7 Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Awards, and 117 Arjuna Awardees.

The Minister highlighted PSPB’s initiatives in promoting sports in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh— a district he has adopted under the Aspirational Districts programme.

“PSPB has tapped into exceptional sporting talent in the district by organizing archery competitions and promoting the sport. We are now planning to host a Sailing event in Sonbhadra next year and support the establishment of a Water Sports Training Centre—further steps to strengthen India’s emerging sports ecosystem,” he declared.

Expressing his delight, the Minister concluded: “I am thrilled to be part of an event organized by the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board in conjunction with the Delhi Soccer Association.”