Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 20: Krit School of Sports Management successfully hosted “Khel, Khiladi aur Karobar”, a first-of-its-kind sports business e-summit aimed at decoding what truly powers the world of sport—beyond the field of play. Positioned as “The Game Behind the Game,” the initiative brought together leading industry voices to unpack the business, economics, and career realities shaping India’s sports ecosystem.
Designed as a high-impact three-hour virtual experience, the summit guided participants from curiosity to clarity through keynote sessions, fireside conversations, and panel discussions built on Krit’s experiential learning philosophy.
The speaker lineup reflected the breadth of India’s sports industry. It included Joy Bhattacharjya, CEO of Prime Volleyball League and former IPL team director; Siddharth Shanker from Reliance Foundation Youth Sports, driving grassroots sports at scale; and Sameer Pathak, President at PWR (Times Group), who has led global sports partnerships across Coca-Cola, ICC events, FIFA World Cup, and the Olympics.
The summit also featured leaders shaping leagues, marketing, and participation such as Rajesh Kumar, Head of Events Marketing at Red Bull India; Nupur Gupta, Head of Product & Strategy at Sportz Village; Jatin Paranjape, Founder & CEO of KheloMore and former India cricketer; and Nimish Raut, Global Head – Esports at NODWIN Gaming, a key architect of India’s esports ecosystem.
Bringing perspectives on careers and consumer-facing sports businesses were Abhishek Iyer, Head of Brand Marketing at FanCode; Niteen Shah, Founder & MD of Total Sports & Fitness, one of India’s leading sports retail chains; and Sudhanshu Fadnis, Founder & CEO of Sportseed, working at the intersection of education and sport.
Speaking on the initiative, Jitendra “Jitu” Joshi, Sports Entrepreneur and Co-founder, Krit School of Sports Management, said:
“We conceptualised the e-summit to bring industry leaders, practitioners and prospective students together to gain insights and a real picture of the industry and its growth trends.”
India’s sports industry today extends far beyond athletes and competitions. It is driven by media rights, sponsorship ecosystems, grassroots development, technology, data, and emerging sectors like esports. The summit highlighted how awareness of these elements—and the career opportunities they create—continues to grow among aspiring professionals.
Khel, Khiladi aur Karobar was designed to bridge this gap by offering a clear, insider view of how the industry functions. Sessions such as “How Sports Actually Make Money” broke down sponsorships, league economics, and revenue models, while “Where is the Opportunity?” explored growth areas across grassroots sport, fan engagement, sports tech, and esports. A dedicated session on “Careers in Sports: Reality vs Perception” addressed entry pathways, required skills, and industry realities.
Highlighting the larger purpose behind the initiative, Abhijit Dabhade, Educationist and Co-founder, Krit School of Sports Management, said:
“Khel, Khiladi aur Karobar is our endeavour to make career planning effective and develop a realistic perspective of a career in sports management, whether for job roles or business aspirations.”
With limited seats enabling meaningful interaction, the summit was positioned not just as an event, but as a platform for discovery—helping participants understand how the sports industry truly works, where it is headed, and how they can be a part of it.
About Krit School of Sports Management
Krit School of Sports Management is a new-age institution focused on building skilled sports industry professionals through experiential learning. Its programs are designed around real-world exposure, industry engagement, and a strong “learning by doing” approach that enables students to understand the business, impact, and ecosystem of sport.
Krit offers an online certificate program in sports management affiliated with the Sports Skill Council of India under Skill India, as well as a Master’s degree program in collaboration with V.G. Vaze College, University of Mumbai. These programs are designed to bridge the gap between education and industry, preparing students for careers across the evolving sports business landscape.
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