Sports Authority of India

What Sports Authority of India does

Sports Authority of India (SAI), founded in 1984 and headquartered at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex in New Delhi, is the statutory body under India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports responsible for promoting sports and maintaining national sports infrastructure. SAI operates a nationwide network comprising 12 regional centres, 20+ National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), and 180+ training centres supporting over 9,000 athletes and 1,000+ coaches across 23 prioritised Olympic sports disciplines. Its core programmes include the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for elite athletes, Khelo India for grassroots talent identification, the Fit India Movement for mass fitness, and the National Sports Repository System (NSRS) for athlete data management.

SAI's technical infrastructure spans sports science departments (biomechanics, physiology, nutrition, psychology, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning) across NCOEs, with equipment procurement for these facilities totalling Rs 80 crore. Digital platforms include the NSRS for athlete registration, the Khelo India mobile app, the Fit India app, and an online stadium booking portal. SAI also manages five major stadiums in Delhi for national and international events.

SAI is fully government-funded with no commercial revenue generation. It receives annual budget allocations from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Rs 660.41 crore in 2021-22) covering athlete stipends (Rs 50,000/month under TOPS), foreign training camps, equipment, sports science services, and operational expenses. Services are provided free of cost to athletes, with onboarding driven by National Sports Federations, the Mission Olympic Cell, and SAI's own talent identification programmes. Key partnerships include the Sports Injury Centre at Safdarjung Hospital, ICMR-NIN, NSE Foundation, and bilateral agreements with France, Korea, and Japan.

Name

Sports Authority of India

Legal name

Sports Authority of India

Website

https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in

Company type

Public

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Sports Authority of India is a government statutory body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports that operates a nationwide network of 180+ training centres, 20+ National Centres of Excellence, and 12 regional centres to identify, train, and support 9,000+ athletes across 23 Olympic sports disciplines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Sports Development Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

Keywords

• Sports development services
• Athlete training programmes
• Elite sports support
• National sports federation
• Grassroots talent identification

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: SAI is a fully government-funded body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It receives annual budget allocations from the Government of India for sports promotion schemes (Khelo India, NSDF, assistance to NSFs), stadium maintenance, and operational expenses. The 2021-22 budget was Rs 593.41 crore for schemes plus Rs 67 crore for NER, totalling Rs 660.41 crore. No commercial revenue generation.
2. Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Disbursements: SAI disburses monthly stipends of Rs 50,000 per athlete to TOPS Core Group athletes, along with funding for foreign training camps, international competition participation, equipment, and coaching support. The government spent Rs 125.44 crore on 369 elite athletes over five years under TOPS.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sports Authority of India (SAI) is a Government of India statutory body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports that promotes sports and games through a nationwide network of National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), and regional centres. It identifies and nurtures athletic talent from grassroots to Olympic level, delivering residential training, coaching, sports science support (biomechanics, physiology, nutrition, psychology, physiotherapy), monthly stipends for elite athletes, foreign training camps, and international competition participation. It also runs flagship national programmes (TOPS, Khelo India, Fit India) and manages major sports stadiums.

Product overview

Sports Authority of India operates a multi-platform digital ecosystem comprising athlete management systems (NSRS), national sports development programmes (Khelo India, Fit India), athlete support schemes (TOPS, NCOE, STC, NSTC), and venue management (Online Stadium Booking). The portfolio functions as an integrated platform with training infrastructure and digital services working together to identify, nurture, and support athletes from grassroots to elite level.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): flagship programme supporting elite athletes with training, equipment, foreign training, international competition, and monthly stipend of Rs 50,000 for Olympic preparation
• National Centres of Excellence (NCOE)
• SAI Training Centres (STC)
• Khelo India
• Fit India

Products and services

• Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Flagship financial and training support programme that provides monthly stipends (Rs 50,000/month), foreign training camps, equipment, coaching, and international competition funding to elite Indian athletes across 27 Olympic sports disciplines preparing for Olympic, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games success. Targeted at India's top-performing athletes.
• National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) Residential training centres across India providing world-class facilities, sports science support, nutrition planning, sports medicine, psychology, rehabilitation, and accommodation for elite athletes training in 23 prioritised Olympic sports disciplines. Operates 20+ centres nationwide.
• SAI Training Centres (STC) Training centres providing junior-level coaching for athletes aged 10-18 years across multiple sports disciplines at 69 STCs and 26 extension centres throughout the country. Offers residential and non-residential programmes.
• National Sports Talent Competition (NSTC) Grassroots talent identification programme targeting school children aged 8-14 years through competitions held in regular schools and indigenous sports competitions across India. Designed to discover and nurture athletic talent at the earliest stage.
• Khelo India Programme National multi-sport programme comprising Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games, Khelo India Winter Games, Khelo India Para Games, and Khelo India Beach Games, serving as a talent identification and development pipeline from school level to elite competition. Includes components for rural and indigenous/tribal sports promotion.
• Fit India Movement National fitness initiative promoting health and wellness among citizens through programmes including Fit India Sundays on Cycle, Fit India School Certification, and community fitness events. Has attracted over 3.2 million cumulative participants across 3+ lakh locations nationwide.
• National Sports Repository System (NSRS) Digital platform for athlete registration, data tracking, and management across SAI's nationwide training network. Enables centralised athlete information management for coaches, federations, and SAI administrators.
• Online Stadium Booking Portal Digital booking platform for SAI-managed sports venues including Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Dr. SPM Swimming Pool, and Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges. Available for sports and non-sports event bookings by organisations and individuals.

Quantifiable outcome

• India won 39 medals (13 gold, 17 silver) at CWG 2026 in Glasgow, surpassing the internal target of 25 medals.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Badminton Association of India (BAI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2026BAI and SAI jointly undertook a Rs 20 crore venue overhaul at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium for the BWF World Championships 2026 (August 17-23). SAI managed structural repairs, anti-pigeon measures (non-toxic gel, predatory bird-call machines), double-door entry systems, and stray animal removal. BWF expressed satisfaction with the preparations.
• Nagaland GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2026SAI and the Nagaland government signed an MoU on 24 July 2026 to relocate the SAI Training Centre from Half Nagarjan to a refurbished Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex in Dimapur, developing it as a National Centre of Excellence for 62 residential athletes in boxing, football, and sepaktakraw. The state government committed to completing civil, electrical, and finishing works within one month.
• Safdarjung Hospital (Sports Injury Centre)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 July 2026SAI and the Sports Injury Centre (SIC) at Safdarjung Hospital signed an MoU on 9 July 2026 to strengthen sports medicine, injury management, and research. The partnership combines SIC's clinical expertise with SAI's nationwide athlete network to provide integrated care including injury prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and sports science support.
• Safdarjung Hospital (Sports Injury Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2026SAI signed an MoU with the Sports Injury Centre at Safdarjung Hospital on 9 July 2026 to provide comprehensive healthcare services for Indian athletes, covering injury prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and sports science research. The partnership aims to develop India-specific sports medicine protocols and expand specialised healthcare infrastructure nationwide.
• Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), BellaryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026IIS launched a residential Taekwondo programme in collaboration with SAI, aiming to develop athletes capable of competing for Olympic success at LA 2028. The programme selected 24 athletes (12 men, 12 women aged 16-26) through a multi-phase nationwide talent identification process. Partially funded by Innocean for two years.
• Yonex (India) / Sunrise Sports India Pvt. Ltd.minorOthersSAI has a Memorandum of Understanding with Yonex/Sunrise Sports India for badminton equipment support. Part of SAI's network of equipment supply partnerships including companies for various sports disciplines.
• Glenmark PharmaceuticalsminorOthersSAI has an MoU with Glenmark for sports medicine and healthcare support, along with partnerships with Glenmark, IIS, and FPSG for athlete welfare and sports science research.
• Hockey IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between SAI and Hockey India for the development of hockey in India, covering talent identification, training infrastructure, and national team preparation support.
• Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAI and ICMR-NIN launched India's first multidisciplinary study to develop evidence-based supplement guidelines for adolescent athletes across nine NCOEs. Preliminary findings from 473 athletes aged 15-18 reveal 91% showed at least one adverse health indicator and 54% used supplements without age-specific guidance.
• France (Government)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral cooperation agreement between India and France in sports, facilitating training exchanges, coaching collaboration, and technical assistance between the two nations.
• Republic of Korea (Government)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between the Republic of Korea and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for sports development cooperation, technology transfer, and athlete exchange programmes.
• Japan – Sukuba UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between SAI and Sukuba University, Japan for sports cooperation, including training exchanges, research collaboration, and coach development.
• Victoria University (Australia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU between SAI and Victoria University, Australia for sports science research, athlete development programmes, and educational exchanges.
• NSE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the NSE Foundation for developing the High Altitude Training Centre (HATC) in Shillong at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore. The HATC will have a 450-athlete capacity with dedicated sports science facilities, elite residential quarters, and an indoor heated swimming pool.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Direct peers

• UK Sport: UK's government-funded high-performance sport agency that directs elite athlete funding (via National Lottery) and oversees Olympic/Paralympic preparation. Closest functional analogue to SAI in structure, mandate, and TOPS-equivalent funding model.
• United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC): National Olympic committee responsible for U.S. Olympic athlete preparation, training centres, and elite funding — comparable to SAI in overseeing national sports development and elite athlete support, albeit with a federated non-government funding base.
• Sport Australia: Australian government agency driving high-performance sport and grassroots participation, with AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) acting as the elite training hub — direct counterpart to SAI's NCOE network and TOPS programme.
• Japan Sport Council (JSC): Japanese government entity operating national training centres (NTC) and supporting elite Olympic preparation — analogous to SAI's centralised NCOE system and government-funded athlete development model.
• Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC): National Olympic committee for South Korea managing elite athlete programmes, training centres, and international competition preparation — comparable mandate and government-linked funding structure.
• High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ): Crown entity responsible for high-performance sport in New Zealand, providing integrated sports science, coaching, and athlete support — functionally analogous to SAI's NCOE sports science ecosystem.
• French National Sports Agency (ANS): France's national agency under the Ministry of Sports overseeing elite athlete preparation and sports development — direct analogue to SAI's role under India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• German Federal Institute of Sport Science (BISp): German federal institute supporting elite sport research and development — comparable in its government-funded mandate to drive national high-performance sport outcomes, including sports science.

Broad incumbents

• Sport England: UK body focused on grassroots and community sport participation (akin to SAI's Fit India and Khelo India grassroots layer) — a peer in the mass participation segment though less focused on elite Olympic preparation than SAI.
• Indian Olympic Association (IOA): India's National Olympic Committee responsible for Olympic participation, representation at IOC, and national federation coordination — overlapping mandate with SAI in overseeing India's international sporting representation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DGSAI
• Facebookfacebook.com/sportsauthorityofindiaMYAS
• Instagraminstagram.com/media.iccsai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sports-authority-of-india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sports Authority of India