Khelo India, trade deal with EU, UK to boost Jalandhar sports goods industry
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Jalandhar three weeks ago, emphasised creating a stronger sporting ecosystem through the expanded Khelo India programme, it raised hopes among the city’s sports goods manufacturers.
The manufacturers believe the initiative, along with the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the India-UK trade deal, could provide a major boost to the domestic market as well as exports.
With the Centre substantially increasing the Khelo India outlay to Rs 29,054 crore for the five-year cycle from 2026-27 to 2030-31, the move is expected to strengthen grassroots infrastructure, talent identification and athlete development. Manufacturers in Jalandhar, India’s sports goods manufacturing hub, expect higher procurement of equipment by schools, Khelo India Centres, academies and district sports authorities as the programme expands.
Jalandhar manufactures a vast range of sports goods, including footballs, cricket bats and protective gear, hockey sticks, volleyballs, boxing gloves, athletics equipment, gym accessories, sports nets and training aids.
Rajan Kohli, MD, TYKA Sports, said, "The announcement that the PM has made is certainly lucrative but we are still awaiting any advantage of it for our business. The usual trend in all government institutions is to call L1 tenders where the lowest bid is considered and quality of products is compromised. So if that will happen under the new sports policy too, it will be no good for us. The India-UK trade deal, however, sounds quite lucrative. We are expecting a 10 per cent reduction in duty which shall be a big boon to our business." TYKA Sports has been into manufacturing of various items including cricket balls, helmets, jerseys, accessories and duffles. They stand apart with their special polo helmets.
Rajesh Kharbanda of Nivia Sports, however, is quite upbeat at the announcements. Asked if he thought that the sports manufacturing units in Meerut could be at more advantage, he said, "I have always considered Meerut to be complimenting Jalandhar and vice-versa. They make certain components that we use here. Likewise, there are certain products that we are manufacturing which they do not. So, we are not competitors. We can go hand-in-hand and the industries of both the cities can simultaneously take advantage of the larger outlay of the Centre". Nivia is into manufacturing of footballs, volleyballs, handballs, basketballs, athletic footwear etc.
Hockey Olympian and former Punjab Minister Pargat Singh, however, said, "The Centre and the state governments are just creating content while there is nothing happening on the ground. The AAP too has promised 3000 stadium in Punjab but we know that they are only going to do some touch-ups of the existing facilities and inaugurate them."
