FICCI TURF 2025, the 15th Global Sports Summit, opened this morning at Federation House, New Delhi, bringing together leaders from government, sport, industry and the diplomatic community to shape India’s sporting roadmap for the coming decade.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address from P. K. S. V. Sagar, Chairman of the FICCI Sports Committee and President of GMR Sports, who emphasised the growing need for stronger collaboration across the sporting ecosystem. With this year’s theme, “Indian Sports – Forging the Path to Global Excellence,” the summit set the tone for discussions centred on ambition, innovation and shared responsibility.
A major highlight of the opening session was the release of the FICCI Knowledge Report, ‘Sporting India Rising’, alongside the India–Australia Strategy for Sports Collaboration. With Australia serving as the partner country, the documents underscored opportunities for deeper cooperation in high-performance systems, coaching, sports science, innovation, and long-term athlete development pathways.
The session also featured a special honour: P. T. Usha was presented with the FICCI Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Indian sport and her enduring influence on generations of athletes.
The session was attended by H. E. Philip Green, Australian High Commissioner to India; P. T. Usha, President, Indian Olympic Association; Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), H. E. Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner of India to Australia; Sanjay Adesara, Co-Chair, FICCI Sports Committee; Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI; Shri Himanshu Gupta, Secretary, CBSE; and Dr. Atulya Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. The vote of thanks was delivered by Amit Bhalla, Co-Chair, FICCI Sports Committee and Vice President, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions.
While Tamil Nadu was among the states represented during the opening, the summit will also see participation from officials and experts from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and several others, through plenary sessions reflecting India’s multi-state commitment to strengthening infrastructure, high-performance systems, sports manufacturing and grassroots development.
Following the inaugural, the summit progressed to sessions including A Global Vision for Indian Sports, India–Australia Synergies in Sports Development, Catalysing India’s Sporting Economy, a masterclass by Deakin University, and discussions on fan engagement, sustainable sports IPs, and India’s next Olympic champions. The day will conclude with the India Sports Awards 2025, celebrating outstanding athletes, coaches and institutions shaping the future of Indian sport.
Usha said, “Indian sport rises when we rise together. Talent exists in every corner of the country, but opportunity must reach every child. Our focus must remain on the athlete: clear pathways, strong systems, fair selections and support rooted in science, nutrition and mental strength. India is full of young dreamers, and it is our responsibility to ensure their dreams matter. With global partnerships, especially with countries like Australia, and with disciplined governance at every level, we can shape a new generation of champions. This is how athletes rise, and this is how a nation rises through sport.”
Sagar added, “TURF has grown from a simple dialogue into a national platform that brings government, industry, global partners, federations, academia and athletes into one room. India is no longer aiming to participate; we are preparing to lead, host and excel on the world stage. Our progress will come from collective effort — states investing in systems, industry driving innovation, and global partners like Australia strengthening knowledge and talent exchange. TURF exists to bring these voices together and shape the next decade of India’s sporting excellence.”
