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On National Sports Day, as India remembers Major Dhyan Chand—the hockey legend who made the world sit up and take notice—it’s worth asking: Do we only watch sport, or are we ready to live it?
678 million Indians consume sports content—making us the world’s third-largest sports audience. Yet when it comes to moving ourselves, India ranks among the lowest globally in physical activity. Our passion shines on the screen, but participation on the ground remains painfully low.
The truth is, reimagining cities, schools, and workplaces around physical activity could be India’s most powerful public health reform.
I experienced this paradox firsthand. In 2016–17, while training for the Delhi Half Marathon, every run felt like a battle. I dodged erratic traffic, choked on pollution, and calculated routes like a military operation just to clock 5–16 km. With no safe tracks or open spaces, the choice was stark: treadmill monotony indoors or chaos outdoors.
Fast forward to 2024. On a work trip to Oslo, I saw the opposite—runners gliding along forest trails, by the waterfront, through pedestrian-first zones. The environment itself invited movement. Infrastructure, design, and culture aligned to make exercise not just possible, but joyful.
That contrast raises a fundamental question: Can India shift from being a nation of spectators to a nation of participants? Can we make movement the norm, not the exception?
From Watching to Playing: Can India Become an Active Sporting Nation?
India’s love for sports is undeniable—but mostly from the sidelines. Cricket, football, and kabaddi dominate screens and social feeds, pulling in millions of viewers across age groups and regions. According to Ormax Media’s 2024 report, 678 million Indians watch sports. Cricket alone accounts for 612 million viewers, while football and kabaddi follow with 305 million and 280 million, respectively.
But this deep enthusiasm rarely translates into actual participation.This paradox is concerning, as our increasingly sedentary lifestyle is fueling a public health crisis. The Dalberg “State of Sports and Physical Activity” (SAPA) report paints a sobering picture: only 1 in 10 Indian adults actively engage in any form of sports.
For urban women and girls, the numbers are even lower, stifled by issues like safety concerns, social norms, and lack of accessible spaces.
The myth of an ‘active’ lifestyle
In India, movement is often born out of necessity, not fitness. Millions walk long distances, celebrate their daily walk of 10,000 or 15,000 steps or navigate public transport daily—but this doesn’t equate to an active lifestyle.
True physical activity involves structured movement—strength training, cardiovascular exercise, flexibility routines, and rest. According to The Lancet Global Health, nearly half of India’s adult population fails to meet the WHO’s recommended physical activity levels. That number has grown from 22.3% in 2000 to 49.4% in 2022, a clear sign of rising inactivity.
The health consequences are dire. As per World Health Organization (WHO, India already bears a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, and obesity—conditions directly linked to sedentary living.
Can infrastructure drive behaviour?
If India is to become an active nation, we must reimagine how our cities and communities are built. Urban design must be centred around movement.
Globally, cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen have redefined what it means to live actively. Over 36% of people in the Netherlands cycle daily. Amsterdam alone boasts 400 km of cycling lanes, reducing obesity and cardiovascular risks across its population.
India has made strides too—metro networks in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai have encouraged greater use of public transport. But to go further, we must prioritize: Firstly, pedestrian-first zones and cycling infrastructure. Secondly, public parks and community sports complexes. Thirdly, well-lit running trails and multi-use recreational spaces. And lastly, safety protocols to ensure inclusive access for women and children
From classrooms to India Inc.: Why fitness needs to be embedded in everyday life?
The foundation of lifelong movement must be laid early. China’s recent national plan to build a “strong education nation” by 2035 mandates at least two hours of daily physical activity in schools. It’s a model India can adapt. Currently, most Indian students receive less than 45 minutes of physical activity per week.
We also need to rethink workplaces. Active living shouldn’t stop at school. Flexible hours, tax incentives for companies investing in wellness programs, and “bike-to-work” or any such active lifestyle campaigns can help build continuity across life stages.
Khelo India, launched in 2018, has been a positive step toward grassroots development. Expanding its reach, reviving traditional Indian sports, and offering sustained financial support to young athletes can deliver long-term public health dividends.
The economic case for an active nation
A sedentary India is an expensive India. The Lancet (2022) estimated that physical inactivity costs the global economy $67.5 billion annually in healthcare and productivity losses. For India, the warning signs are even sharper: McKinsey projects that if obesity trends continue, nearly half the world’s population could be overweight by 2030—placing unbearable strain on India’s already-stretched healthcare system.
On the flip side, every rupee invested in sports and physical infrastructure today can save multiples in future medical expenses. A healthier workforce is also a more productive workforce—driving not just well-being, but long-term economic resilience.
As we mark National Sports Day tomorrow, the real tribute to Major Dhyan Chand—and every athlete who inspires us—must go beyond hashtags and highlight reels. It lies in ensuring that every Indian, child or adult, has the infrastructure, access, and encouragement to move.
India cannot afford to remain a nation of spectators. To truly reap the demographic dividend of our young population, we must embed sports and movement into everyday life—across schools, workplaces, and communities.
Because medals may bring us moments of glory. But it is movement—daily, inclusive, and accessible—that will secure healthier, longer lives for millions of Indians.
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Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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