IDAN Chairman Abu Metha urges corporate India to invest in grassroots sports infrastructure and athletes at One Purpose India Forum (OPIF) 2026
DIMAPUR — Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) and Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Abu Metha, has called for sustained corporate investment in grassroots sports, pointing out that building a strong sporting ecosystem requires long-term commitment, adequate infrastructure, and structured support for young athletes.
Metha said this while delivering 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 in New Delhi on October 27. IDAN participated in the forum in partnership with CSRBOX.
Stating that sports serves 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. He stressed that greater focus must be placed on grassroots development, sustained training, access to facilities, and institutional support to help young athletes realise their potential.
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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 said, calling for stronger partnerships between the government, corporates, and development organisations to nurture talent and expand access to sports.
Metha reiterated that sports has evolved beyond recreation into an industry with significant potential to contribute to economic growth, national recognition, and social cohesion, stressing the importance of establishing strong foundations to enable more young people to pursue careers in sports.
The panel featured perspectives from corporate and sports development leaders. Sonal Mehta of Mondelēz International highlighted the importance of community engagement, while Connie Silveria of Welspun World pointed out the need for sustained support for girls in sports and bridging the gap between talent and opportunity. Ashworth Vaz of the Inspire Institute of Sport and the JSW Foundation underscored the need for early exposure to different sports and structured training.
Founder of the Brahmaputra Volleyball League, Abhijit Bhattacharya, shared how a grassroots initiative that began with 100 volleyballs has grown to more than 400 teams in its seventh season.