Metha highlights need for infrastructure, structured training and long-term support for young athletes
Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) and Advisor to the Chief Minister, Abu Metha, has called for sustained corporate investment in grassroots sports, emphasising that building a strong sporting ecosystem requires long-term commitment, adequate infrastructure and structured support for young athletes.
Metha delivered the keynote address during a panel discussion titled “Sports as a Catalyst for Community Good” at the One Purpose India Forum (OPIF) 2026, held at Hotel Pullman, New Delhi. IDAN participated in the forum in partnership with CSRBOX.
Highlighting the growing importance of sports as both a social force and an emerging industry, Metha said sports transcends language and brings people together through shared stories of perseverance, sacrifice and achievement. Drawing from his own experience of participating in multiple sporting disciplines during his youth, he underscored the transformative potential of sports in building communities and inspiring young people.
He noted that while Indian athletes are receiving greater recognition, recognition alone is insufficient to build a robust sporting ecosystem. Greater emphasis must be placed on grassroots development, sustained training, access to facilities and institutional support to help young athletes realise their potential.
Referring to the achievements of athletes from the Northeast, Metha observed that the region continues to produce medal-winning talent despite limited investment and infrastructure. He called for greater participation from corporate India and increased Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support to bridge these gaps and create more opportunities for emerging athletes.
“Developing a champion takes years of commitment. It cannot be achieved through short- term interventions alone,” he emphasised, calling for stronger partnerships between government, corporates and development organisations to nurture talent and expand access to sports.
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The panel featured perspectives from corporate and sports development leaders on nurturing talent and expanding community participation. Sonal Mehta of Mondelēz International highlighted the importance of community engagement, while Connie Silveria of Welspun World stressed sustained support for girls in sports and bridging the gap between talent and opportunity.
Ashworth Vaz of the Inspire Institute of Sport and JSW Foundation underscored the need for early exposure to different sports and structured training. Abhijit Bhattacharya, founder of the Brahmaputra Volleyball League, shared how a grassroots initiative that began with 100 volleyballs has grown to more than 400 teams in its seventh season, demonstrating the impact of community-led sports development.
Metha reiterated that sports has evolved beyond recreation into an industry with significant potential to contribute to economic growth, national recognition and social cohesion. He stressed the importance of establishing strong foundations that enable more young people to access sporting opportunities and pursue careers in sports.
The discussion underscored the need for greater collaboration among governments, corporate organisations and development partners to strengthen grassroots sports, support emerging talent and extend sporting opportunities to communities across the country. For Nagaland and the wider Northeast, such partnerships could play an important role in addressing infrastructure gaps and creating pathways for young athletes to excel.
