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Building India’s Sporting Future: Why This Partnership Matters
The Indian Sports Management Association (INSMA) has quickly become one of the country’s most active platforms for strengthening the professional landscape of sport. Bringing together administrators, coaches, academics, federations, private organisations, and emerging sport leaders, INSMA focuses on capacity building, research, and professional development across India’s sport ecosystem. Its upcoming national conference, on December 19 2025, will convene leaders from across India and overseas to explore one central question: What skills, structures, and collaborations does Indian sport need for its next decade of growth?
It is within this context that the partnership between INSMA, and Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University, takes on real significance.
India is entering an extraordinary phase. The sports industry is diversifying, athlete development pathways are expanding, and expectations of professionalism in governance and operations are rising. INSMA provides unmatched insight into these local dynamics, creating a bridge between academics, practitioners on the ground and organisations working at the national level. Leeds Beckett, globally recognised for its leadership in sport management, adds to this academic rigour, research expertise, and a proven history of developing industry-ready graduates.
Dr James Musgrave, Head of Sport Management: “What drew us to INSMA was their ability to connect directly with the people shaping Indian sport every day. When you combine that reach with our research strengths, you have the foundations for something genuinely impactful.”
Emerging from this collaboration is joint research interests on talent ecosystem mapping, sport governance maturity across states, women’s sport participation pathways, and the economics of sport and monetisation. These interests are structured not as abstract academic exercises but as tools to help federations and organisations make better decisions across sport over the coming decades.
“The opportunity here isn’t just to study sport, but to work with the people running it. INSMA allows us to co-design solutions that respond directly to India’s realities,” Dr Jo Clarke explained. “India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, a move widely viewed as a significant step towards India's larger ambition of hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics. With this momentum and a rapidly growing sport ecosystem, our partnership with INSMA enables us to collaboratively support sector-wide innovation, and contribute to shaping the future of sport management.”
The INSMA conference will act as the launchpad for key strands of the partnership. Co-hosted workshops, research showcases, and consultations with federations and sport organisations will help build a national and international network equipped to mentor young professionals, support states and federations, and elevate India’s representation in global sport forums.
“India’s sport ecosystem is evolving at unprecedented speed, and collaboration is the only way to ensure that growth is sustainable and inclusive,” said Dr. Sandhya Manjunath, General Secretary of the Indian Sports Management Association. “Our partnership with Leeds Beckett University/Carnegie School of Sport brings together global best practice and deep local insight. Together, we aim to empower the next generation of sport leaders with the skills, perspectives and networks required to transform Indian sport over the coming decade.”
Ultimately, this collaboration succeeds because it is built on a shared belief: that India’s sporting ambitions deserve world-class support—and that together, INSMA and Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett can help shape the next generation who will deliver it.
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Dr James Musgrave
Dr Jo Clarke
Jo is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Business Management in the Carnegie School of Sport. She is dedicated to leveraging sport for social change, cultural exchange, and global impact through her teaching, research, and industry experiences in the UK and overseas.
