Ashok Rai’s Post

Why is Scoretab needed? What is the Purpose? Why did I start on this entrepreneurial journey? The Paris Olympics 2024 has come to a close. India, which is the fifth largest economy in the world, had a chance to win 95 medals from 69 events yet only six came home this year. It had the chance to participate in as many as 42 disciplines, yet only featured in 16. The 1.4 billion Indian citizens had hopes pinned on many of the athletes for medals and were left bitterly disappointed at the final outcome of 1 Silver, 5 Bronze, 6 fourth place and 100 gms excess weight finishes. All the respectable and reputable news articles will have you believe that India’s Olympic performance gap is primarily due to inadequate investment, poor governance, and underdeveloped infrastructure. To bridge this gap, India must adopt a more comprehensive approach, focusing on consistent investment, effective governance, and grassroots development. With the right strategies, India has the potential to significantly improve its standing in future Olympic Games. But, that is not the whole truth. What India lacks is the 1.4 billion citizens actively participating in cheering for our very talented athletes. Having an interest once in 4 years does not benefit anybody. Even in our professional lives we seek validation and encouragement from our work place to do better. Sports viewership can significantly enhance India's global sports performance in several ways: 1. Increased Sponsorship and Funding: Higher viewership attracts sponsors, leading to more funding for athletes, events, and infrastructure development. 2. Improved Athlete Morale: Media coverage builds a strong fan base, motivating athletes to perform better knowing they have national support. 3. Talent Identification: Widespread coverage can help identify and nurture new talent by inspiring young athletes and highlighting their performances. 4. Promoting Lesser-Known Sports: Media can bring attention to sports beyond cricket, diversifying India's success in various disciplines. 5. Public and Government Support: Widespread media coverage can lead to increased public interest and pressure on governments to invest more in sports development. In essence, Scoretab acts as a bridge between sports and the audience, helping to build and sustain a strong sports culture. If you want to feel proud as an Indian in the sports arena then it needs to start with your support for the athletes. #Scoretab #BillionCheers #IndiaSportsCalendar #TeamIndia

The science of sports and exercise is booming in India, fueled by our nation's phenomenal athletic performances. But to truly dominate the global stage, we need a robust network for knowledge sharing and collaboration. Introducing The SES Network: a first-of-its-kind platform connecting students, professionals, and aspiring sports scientists. Here, you'll find: 1. A thriving community: Network with peers, mentors, and industry leaders. 2. Free flow of knowledge: Access resources, insights, and best practices. 3. Elevating the standards: Shape the future of Indian sports science with high-quality practices. Are you ready to be part of the movement? Register for The SES Network today and unlock your full potential in the world of sports science! #SportsScience #India #TheSESNetwork #Networking #Community

Watching India’s sports landscape evolve has been inspiring, especially with the government’s recent efforts to make sports accessible and competitive for everyone. Here’s what I find especially impactful: 1️⃣ Shifting Policies: From the All-India Council of Sports (1954) to the ambitious National Sports Policy 2024, India’s focus on grassroots engagement and elite performance is stronger than ever. 2️⃣ Key Programs Moving the Needle: National Sports Policy 2024: Expanding infrastructure and identifying talent early. Khelo India: Bringing sports into schools and making facilities more accessible. TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme): Elevating top athletes with world-class training. 3️⃣ Seeing the Impact: Khelo India and TOPS have boosted youth participation and made a real difference in India’s global sports presence, with new facilities even reaching rural areas. 🏟️ Keeping this momentum will need sustained support and collaboration. With the right focus, I truly believe India’s sports culture is set for incredible growth. What impact do you think these initiatives will have on India’s future in sports? I’d love to hear your thoughts below! 👇 #SportsDevelopment #IndiaSports #KheloIndia #SportsPolicy #OlympicDream

Since the elections are over and #BJP has won, considering their points in manifesto I have tried to make sense of what does it mean for the future of #IndianSports 1. Enhanced Sports Infrastructure: - Increased funding and the establishment of sports academies will lead to better sports facilities and training centers, providing athletes with the resources they need to excel. 2. Broader Participation in Sports: - By promoting all types of sports and making sports a compulsory part of the school curriculum, a larger segment of the population, especially young people, will engage in physical activities and sports. This could lead to a healthier population and a more sports-oriented culture. 3. Talent Identification and Development: - The National Sports Talent Search will help identify young talent across the country, ensuring that gifted athletes are discovered early and given the necessary support and training to develop their potential. 4. Career Security for Athletes: - Creating attractive career paths and special schemes for sportspersons will make sports a more viable and secure career option. This could encourage more young people to pursue sports professionally, knowing they have a stable future. 5. Increased International Competitiveness: - With better training facilities, early talent identification, and comprehensive support systems, Indian athletes will likely perform better in international competitions. This could lead to an increase in India's presence and success in global sports events such as the Olympics and World Championships. 6. Inclusive Sports Culture: - By promoting both traditional and modern sports, the initiative will help preserve and celebrate India's diverse cultural heritage while also embracing contemporary sports, creating a more inclusive sports culture. 7. Social and Economic Benefit: - Improved sports infrastructure and increased participation can have broader social and economic benefits, such as job creation in sports-related fields, improved public health, and greater national pride. Let me know what are your thoughts on this? #India #sports

Attending India's First Sports Tech Conclave by Indian Institute of Technology, Madras CESSA in Delhi 🌟 This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend India's first Sports Tech Conclave organized by IITM CESSA in Delhi. Although I could only attend the first day's sessions, I was amazed by the groundbreaking work being done in the sports tech sector in India. Key Takeaways: *There are immense opportunities for sports tech in India in the coming years. *There is a significant need for advancements at the grassroots level to make technology accessible to the masses. *Providing the right knowledge to industry contributors is crucial for successful adoption and implementation. *It's essential to have more programs focused on educating and equipping the masses at the grassroots level to embrace new technologies. In discussions with various company representatives, it was encouraging to see their optimism regarding technological advancements. However, many shared that they face similar challenges in integrating these technologies into the industry. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all fellow contributors in the sports industry. Together, we are paving the way for India's technologically advanced and powerful sports ecosystem. Let's continue to work towards making India a global sports powerhouse! 💪🏅 #SportsTech #Innovation #GrassrootsDevelopment #SportsIndustry #India

I agree that tech can indeed help sports at grassroot level in India. My best wishes to all who are involved. Keep up the good work. Yet, a pressing challenge remains: What do we do with the data if we lack the understanding to utilize or apply it in real-time sports? Its not that simple. A data can be understood in 100 different ways and sometimes completely in a contrasting manner. I recently encountered a post on extensive dataset for a player, detailing usage on field movement segmentation. It was incredibly impressive on paper. However, despite this wealth of data, the player continued to suffer from consistent injuries and struggled to perform at their peak. Did tech fail to provide sufficient data? Certainly not. The issue arose in how the data was interpreted and applied directly to the player without considering various factors such as different actions, game situations, internal body dynamics, or subtle postural nuances. So its not just about collecting data but also interpreting it intelligently and applying it contextually that matters eventually. Tech can only enhance sports performance when integrated with deep understanding and nuanced application tailored to individual athletes. my 2 cents

Greetings to everyone as we celebrate 78th Independence Day of India, the most diverse country one can think of, geographically or culturally or on any parameter one can think of. It is #amazing and also instills a sense of #feelingproud in all of us. #unityindiversity Well, on the eve of the celebrations, we get the disappointing news. #CAS has rejected the appeal to award silver medal to #VineshPhigat in #wrestling. I can empathize with her dejection & so are 1.4 billion Indians. However, rules are rules. Better to let the matter rest now, respectfully. We should be more upset with reports quote how much amount was spent on Olympics without getting desired outcome. Quite a disappointing approach. And, probably a pointer to why we miss on sports. Policy makers need to review basic approach to developing sports. What should be the focus of sports policy? Promoting individual sports or developing ecosystem for sports that would lead to excellence in various sports? How do we identify and train sports talents from the largest talent pool that we have? How do we promote the culture of sports, where excellence in sports is rewarded and provided opportunity to train for achieving greater heights? How do we ensure financial security to talents in sports that they pursue sports and continue pursuing it till they reach their optimum potential? Considering these factors, are we really spending enough on sports? Is it the most optimized way to spend on sports? Probably not on both counts. How to develop a policy framework for attracting private funds in promoting sports – investment in physical infrastructure, development of talents, monetization of sports etc. There would be many more aspects of managing & promoting sports. It should also be acknowledged that Sports has transformed into a tool to showcase national achievement and aspirations. Investment / funding requirements are met accordingly. Excellence in sports is a journey not an event that can be conducted successfully by spending some money. And, benefits of promoting sports shows not just in terms of more medals in competitive sports events. Aspects like #discipline, acquiring additional #skills, #aspiration to do better etc. also show impact on other aspects of public lives too. #Independenceday #India #Indian #sports #managingsports #Olympics #ParisOlymics2024 #sportsinIndia

India’s sports story is one of unfulfilled promise, a tale of a sleeping giant yet to awaken fully. In the recently concluded Paris Olympics, the 117-member strong Indian contingent was expected to achieve a double-digit medal count including multiple gold medals, however, that story didn’t pan out in the same fashion, with the Indian contingent finally closing out on 6 medals with no gold to flaunt. Several trends are shaping up in India’s Sports Education market aimed at addressing this gap at the grassroots level. The past few years have seen the launch of marquee government initiatives like the Khelo India Scheme, the growth of sports startups catering to schools & privately funded academies, and the emergence of sports-focused formal education institutions. These institutions offer a balanced curriculum that integrates rigorous academic education with intensive sports training, providing students with the resources and guidance needed to excel both academically and athletically. Read our article "From Classrooms to Podiums: Bharat's Quest for Gold" to gain insights into the space.   Link to our article: https://shorturl.at/6gh1X Follow us on LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/Crrfv   In case you wish to learn more about this, do reach out to us.   LoEstro Advisors   CC: Rakesh Gupta | Sumit Handa | Payal Jain | Neha A. | Kiran S | Bibek Singha | Aditya Vavilakolanu | Rishabh Nagori | Riya Sinha | Soumya Periwal | Saish Patil | Ayush Palawat | Udayan Nath   #education #sports #olympics #india #k12 #highereducation #growth #startups #investments

🏅 Six Medals, One Billion Dreams: Why India Deserves More at the Olympics As the Paris 2024 Olympics come to a close, India's achievement of 6 medals brings both pride and reflection. We are the world's most populous country, yet our Olympic tally lags far behind our potential. The question is, why? The answer lies in our mindset and education system. From a young age, our schools and parents focus overwhelmingly on academic success, teaching us how to become good employees, secure jobs, and fit into the corporate mold. But where does that leave the athlete, the artist, the innovator within us? In our pursuit of job security, we’ve lost sight of holistic development. Our education system rarely nurtures creativity, physical fitness, or critical thinking—skills essential not just for Olympic success, but for life itself. We push our children to excel in exams, but not on the field. We celebrate top ranks, but not top speeds. This narrow focus stifles the potential of millions of young Indians. What can we do differently? Rethink Education: Schools should foster an environment that values sports and arts alongside academics. Let’s encourage students to explore their passions, whether it's in the classroom, on the field, or on stage. Mindset Shift: Parents and educators must recognize that success isn’t limited to high-paying jobs. An Olympic medal, a groundbreaking startup, or a transformative work of art are all worthy pursuits. Let’s celebrate diverse achievements. Infrastructure and Support: We need to invest in sports infrastructure, coaching, and scholarships at the grassroots level. Talent should not be stifled by lack of resources or opportunities. The path to more Olympic medals—and a more well-rounded society—starts with how we educate and support our youth. It’s time we invest in our greatest asset: the limitless potential of our young generation. Let’s shift the narrative from producing employees to nurturing champions. The future of India depends on it. #Olympics #India #Education #Mindset #HolisticDevelopment #YouthEmpowerment #Sports

So I’m really excited by India’s recent push to transform its sports culture. The government’s initiatives are setting the stage for a more inclusive and competitive environment—and it’s inspiring to watch. Here’s what I find truly transformative: 1️⃣ Evolving Policies Starting from the All-India Council of Sports (1954) to the ambitious National Sports Policy 2024, India’s policies are actively supporting both grassroots participation and elite performance. 2️⃣ Key Initiatives Making Waves National Sports Policy 2024: Building infrastructure and identifying talent early. Khelo India: Expanding youth sports in schools and increasing facility access. TOPS: Providing elite athletes with top training and resources to reach global podiums. 3️⃣ The Real Impact Khelo India has brought youth participation to new heights, while TOPS has boosted our international performance. Improved facilities are opening doors for talent across urban and rural areas alike. 🏟️ But to keep the momentum going, long-term funding, inclusivity, and public awareness are essential. There’s a huge opportunity to integrate sports into education, elevate women’s sports, and foster public-private partnerships. With continued focus, I believe India’s sports culture will thrive even further. How do you see government initiatives shaping India’s sports future? Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear your perspective! 👇 #SportsDevelopment #IndiaSports #KheloIndia #SportsPolicy #OlympicDream