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Outdoor Sports in India



                                                        - Rashmi Mani, Vaidehi Yadgire, Runmayi Jamode,
                                                                      Ajinkya Kulkarni, Harshwardhan Garde


       Introduction                                              equipment, and gear, rules and knowledge,
       Outdoor sports have always held a special                 teamwork,  mental toughness,  and last  but
       place in India’s cultural and recreational                not least sportsmanship.
       landscape. From the serene foothills of the
       Himalayas to the coastal fringes of the Indian            Sports Equipment across India
       subcontinent, the nation boasts a diverse                 Materials like rubber, leather, or synthetic
       terrain that’s conducive to a wide array of               materials for the outer cover of different
       outdoor activities. This article will explore             balls such as soccer balls, basketballs, tennis
       the various facets of outdoor sports in India,            balls, etc. The inner bladder can be made
       including government initiatives, the sports              of latex or butyl. Balls are stitched or glued
       culture, the production of sports goods, the              together to create the outer shell. The inner
       establishment of a Sports University, and                 bladder  is  inflated.  Graphite,  aluminum,  or
       other noteworthy endeavors.                               wood contribute to the manufacturing of
                                                                 rackets.  After  high  inspection  of  rackets  in
       Government Efforts                                        terms of string tension, weight, balance, etc.
       The Indian government has recognized the                  the rackets are sent to the competitions.
       importance of outdoor sports in promoting                 Even shoe designs have now widened
       a healthy lifestyle and overall well-being.               across the country along with the increased
       Initiatives like ‘Khelo India’ and ‘Fit India’ have       manufacturing facilities in India. Various
       been  launched  to  encourage  participation              materials, such as synthetic leather, mesh,
       in sports at the grassroots level. These                  and rubber, are chosen for different parts of
       programs provide financial support, training,             the shoe.
       and infrastructure to nurture young talents               The durability of shoes is a higher focus. The
       and promote sports at the ground level.                   manufacturing process involves  advanced
                                                                 technologies and automation, especially
       Sports Culture in India                                   for mass production. Manufacturers follow
       India’s rich cultural heritage is intertwined             strict quality  control  measures to ensure
       with various forms of outdoor sports such                 that the sports equipment meets safety
       as  Kabaddi,  Cricket,  Kho-Kho,  and  Hockey.            standards and performance requirements.
       These sports have a passionate following                  Additionally, custom and handmade sports
       and often serve as a source of national pride.            equipment may involve more detailed
       Furthermore, the rise of adventure sports like            craftsmanship. Jalandhar, a city in the
       trekking, mountaineering, and river rafting               state  of  Punjab,  is  often  referred  to  as  the
       has captured the younger generation’s                     “Sports City of India” known for its cricket
       imagination, contributing to a vibrant sports             equipment manufacturing. It is a hub for
       culture.                                                  producing bats, balls, protective gear, and
                                                                 accessories. Various cities in India, including
       Participation Requirements                                Ludhiana  (Punjab)  and  Tirupur  (Tamil
       The requirements for participating in sports              Nadu), are known for manufacturing sports
       can  vary  depending  on  the  specific  sport            apparel,  including  jerseys,  sportswear,  and
       and the level of competition. Some common                 accessories such as caps and bags. These
       elements  and  requirements  that  are                    manufacturing facilities often employ skilled
       generally important for sports participation              craftsmen and workers who have expertise
       are  physical  fitness,  skills,  and  training,          in creating sports equipment. Many of


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