KPMG sets up sports tech hub to seize $40 billion opportunity in India

KPMG India has inaugurated its 'Sports Technology Hub' in Bengaluru, aiming to leverage a $40 billion opportunity in India's sports sector by 2030. According to a report by The Hindu, this platform will help the country's sports organisations accelerate digital transformation, unlock new growth opportunities, and create a future-ready sports ecosystem.

The centre was officially inaugurated on Friday by Yezdi Nagporewala, CEO of KPMG India, and P. T. Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association. This initiative will bring together emerging technology, industry expertise, and practical use cases to solve the evolving business and operational challenges in the sports industry.

KPMG officials stated that with the growth of the sports industry, organisations are using technology to improve fan experience, enhance athlete performance, and strengthen commercial outcomes. However, fragmented data, legacy infrastructure, operational inefficiencies, and rising expectations for personalised experiences continue to hinder innovation. This Bengaluru-based hub will attempt to resolve these issues through practical solutions.

Yezdi Nagporewala, CEO of KPMG India, said, "To realise India's potential in sports, innovation is needed across the entire sports value chain. Our Sports Technology Hub aims to bring together industry expertise and technology to reshape how sports are played, managed, and experienced. As India strengthens its position on the global sports stage, technology will be central to creating a more competitive, connected, and future-ready sports ecosystem."

According to Prashant Shantkumar, Head of Sports Sector and Partner at KPMG India, the hub showcases various technology-driven facilities such as AI-powered fan engagement platforms, smart stadium and venue management, athlete performance analytics, computer vision-based training and match insights, digital ticketing and loyalty solutions, as well as sponsorship measurement tools.

Additionally, it includes capabilities for predictive maintenance, cyber security, sustainability, and generative AI-enabled content creation to optimise operations and unlock new business opportunities. Mr. Shantkumar added, "The Sports Technology Hub brings together cutting-edge technologies like AI, advanced analytics, computer vision, and digital platforms to solve the most pressing challenges facing the sports industry. Through practical and result-oriented solutions, our aim is to help sports organisations innovate faster, improve performance, and create a more engaging experience for fans, athletes, and partners."

This Sports Technology Hub has been designed as a collaborative platform. It is expected to bring together sports federations, leagues, clubs, technology providers, startups, and other industry stakeholders to discover innovative solutions and implement them on a large scale.