SCOREBOOK 2026 Season 2: Driving India's Sporting Future Now

SCOREBOOK 2026 Season 2, organised by the Social Sports Foundation, brought together sports administrators, former athletes, journalists, academicians and sports professionals in Kolkata to discuss the key challenges and opportunities shaping Indian sports.

Held at the CII Suresh Neotia Centre of Excellence on August 25, the second edition of the sports conclave, titled “The Sports Conclave: Powering Sporting Excellence”, moved beyond traditional discussions around medals and performance.

The event focused on sports governance, corporate participation, commercialisation, anti-doping regulations, athlete welfare, sports education and the wider development of India's sporting ecosystem.

The conclave opened in the presence of former Indian Test cricketer Devang Gandhi and Sibananda Mishra, Regional Director, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Kolkata.

Sports as a Tool for Corporate Growth and Leadership

One of the major discussions at SCOREBOOK 2026 Season 2 focused on the role of sports within corporate organisations and government institutions.

Maj Gen S. N. Mukherjee (Retd.), former Vice-Chancellor of LNIPE, Gwalior, highlighted how sporting activities can break conventional workplace hierarchies and provide employees with opportunities to demonstrate leadership and teamwork.

He pointed out that on a playing field, corporate designations become less important, allowing talent and performance to take centre stage.

The discussion also examined how companies can integrate sports into their workplace culture—not only for physical fitness but also for team building, leadership development, talent identification and employee engagement.

The session featured Subhojyoti Chakraborty, Director, CII-SNCEL, and Bisesh Bose, former Chief Manager of Tata Tea. Journalist Anirban Sinha Roy of India Today moderated the discussion.

National Sports Governance Act: Focus on Implementation

The second session at SCOREBOOK 2026 Season 2 examined the implementation of the National Sports Governance Act 2025 at the state level.

The discussion centred on whether the legislation is bringing meaningful changes to sports administration and how its impact can be evaluated.

Anirban Dutta, Secretary of the Indian Football Association (IFA), also highlighted the importance of greater representation of women in sports administration and decision-making roles.

Another key issue was grassroots investment. Speakers stressed that funding and development should continue across sporting disciplines, including sports that may not attract significant commercial attention.

The discussion underlined the need for stronger governance structures and sustained investment to create a more inclusive and professionally managed sporting ecosystem.

Debate Over Team Jersey Merchandising

The third session addressed the controversial topic of “Merchandising of Team Jersey is Unethical.”

The discussion explored the balance between commercial opportunities and the emotional and symbolic value attached to team and national jerseys.

Padma Shri Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Joint Secretary of the Indian Athletic Association, emphasised that the national jersey represents years of hard work, sacrifice and achievement.

The panel examined whether excessive commercialisation could dilute the identity associated with sporting teams and national representation.

Senior sports journalists Munal Chattopadhyay, former President of CSJC, and Biswajit Das of Aajkal Patrika participated in the session, which was moderated by sports administrator Rongon Majumder.

Athlete Welfare and the Fight Against Doping
The fourth session at SCOREBOOK 2026 Season 2 focused on “Anti-Doping Regulations and Sports Injury Care.”

The discussion moved beyond punishment and explored the circumstances that can influence an athlete's decision to use prohibited substances.

Dr Rajarshi Kar, former national athlete and Assistant Professor of Physical Education College, Dinhata, argued that the sporting community should also examine the pressures faced by athletes before judging those who violate anti-doping rules.

The session highlighted the importance of athlete education, clean sport awareness, injury prevention, medical assistance and rehabilitation.

Dr Sudarshan Biswas, President of the PEFI West Bengal Chapter and Deputy Director of Physical Education at Visva-Bharati University, stressed the importance of physical education in the broader education system.