We Cheer—But Do We Ever Play?
If there’s one thing we Indians do better than play sport—it’s talk about it. Loudly. Passionately. And with absolute confidence.
Whether it’s a Sunday brunch, a wedding buffet, or that chai break at work, someone will have strong opinions on why Virat should’ve rotated the strike, what Bumrah did wrong in the last over, or how the kabaddi team just doesn’t defend like it used to. We dissect tactics we’ve never tried, debate rules we barely follow, and confidently shout “Cover that off side!”—from the sofa, with a plate of samosas in hand.
In short; we don’t just watch sports. We live it. Loudly. But increasingly, only as spectators.
When Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally lifted their maiden IPL trophy, the city turned into a stadium. Firecrackers lit up the sky, streets overflowed with fans, and 55 million people tuned in on JioStar. It was a moment of celebration—until it wasn’t. A tragic stampede left 11 dead, dozens injured, and a city asking: have our sporting celebrations outpaced our systems?
This is India’s paradox. We celebrate sport with full heart—but we rarely play it. Influencer campaigns for IPL crossed ₹1,000 crore, tweets were sold for ₹20,000, and social media lit up with every boundary. But participation? Not so shiny.
The State of Sports and Physical Activity in India report shows that only 10% of Indian adults play sports regularly. Another 200 million Indians, including 45 million adolescents, are considered physically inactive. And according to The Lancet Global Health (2024), nearly half of Indian adults (49.4%) aren’t getting enough movement—a sharp rise from just 22% in 2000.
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Screens Over Fields
Play isn’t just dying out—it’s being replaced. Adults now average six hours a day on screens. Children aren’t far behind—42% of kids under 12 clock 2–4 hours of daily screen time. This shift isn’t just cultural—it’s physiological. Studies link the rise in childhood obesity, ADHD, and anxiety to sedentary lifestyles and a lack of play.
And as screens take over, fields disappear. 23% of Indian schools lack playgrounds, and in Mumbai, that number shoots up to 75%. In Hyderabad, nearly half of all schools have no play area. We’ve built a nation that cheers in high definition—but doesn’t always provide space to move.
Khelo India: Policy vs Reality
India’s dream of mass participation received some fuel with Khelo India and the National Education Policy. The NEP called for sports-integrated learning—one where games fostered holistic development by promoting physical and psychological well-being. Khelo India, launched in 2017–18, backed it with big numbers: a total allocation of ₹5,800 crore, over 1,000 training centres, and nearly 3,000 athletes receiving coaching, medical care, and ₹10,000 a month to keep playing.
But here’s where the scoreboard tilts. A 2019 Parliamentary Standing Committee report found 60% of athletes dropped out in just one year—blame poor hostel facilities, mid-year transfers, and poor academic integration. The scheme promises support, but one injury or dip in form? The money stops.
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Claiming Play—Together
And yet, the picture isn’t entirely bleak.
Across cities, changes are taking hold. In Bhubaneswar, municipal authorities have directed that parks remain open from 6 am to 9 pm, with some even extending beyond—no fees, no registration, no whistles—so families and kids can play any time they wish.
Elsewhere—Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune—school playgrounds and neighbourhood parks are being unlocked for free community use after hours, transforming urban spaces into inclusive zones of play.
These city efforts are reinforced by national initiatives like the Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge, championed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) advocating for child- and family-friendly public spaces across 25+ cities.
At the same time, Khelo India’s impact is beginning to show in international arenas. At the 2023 Asian Games, 124 Khelo India athletes won 42 of India’s 106 medals, and at Paris 2024, 28 out of 112 Indian Olympians were Khelo India alumni —evidence that investment in grassroots talent can deliver results.
Because the need to play isn’t just about professional sport. It’s about joy. Movement. The thrill of a comeback in gully cricket, the drama of a last-point kabaddi raid, the laughter of a group skipping rope in rhythm. It’s where friendships are made, egos are softened, and mental health quietly rebuilds.
Sport is a human condition. It teaches us to lose with dignity, win with humility, and keep trying. If India wants to be a truly sporting nation, we don’t just need medals. We need open fields, unlocked gates, and the belief that play isn’t a luxury—it’s a right. Because cheering is great.
But playing? That’s where the real story begins.
Disclaimer: All Images are AI generated