Medals rekindle hopes for sports units

The mood amongst Jalandhar’s 1,200-odd sports goods manufacturing units is upbeat as the industry is expected to register double-digit growth this year on the back of the good showing at the Olympics.

The success at the Beijing Olympics has not only brought cheers to billions of Indian, it has also led to a renewed sense of optimism about the future prospects of the 1,200-odd sports goods manufacturing units in Jalandhar.

With majority of these units in the SME space, the Rs-600 crore sports industry, which faced severe problems few years back and also witnessed single-digit growth last year, is expected to register double-digit growth this year.

Jalandhar has long been the nucleus of the sports goods industry in Punjab. About 90 per cent of the sports goods units of the state are located here.

The products manufactured include footballs, cricket bats, hockey and cricket balls, hockey sticks, tennis badminton and squash rackets, balls, soft leather goods, shuttle cocks etc. The sports industry from Sialkot shifted to Jalandhar in 1948 after Partition.

Despite inadequate capital and technology, the industry managed to carve out a niche and was reckoned as a major cottage industry, providing direct employment to about 10,000 workers and indirect employment to 40,000 workers.

In an interaction with Business Standard, AN Chadha, managing partner, Universal Sports (manufacturer of boxing equipment), said: “India’s achievement in Beijing will definitely increase sales in the domestic market.

We are optimistic and prepared to meet the demand. More people will have inclination towards sports other than cricket and hockey.”

Chadha has been manufacturing boxing gloves for 45 years and is one of the oldest manufacturer in Jalandhar. The company exports 85 per cent of its products and the rest is sold in the domestic market. He added: “I think the domestic market for boxing equipment will increase and accordingly we will expand our capacity.”

Echoing similar sentiments, R C Kohli, Beat All Sports, said: “Prior to Olympic success, People’s inclination towards games like Boxing, Badminton was but the recent success will not only compel them to adopt these two games in a professional manner but also other sports.” Kohli manufacturers cricket and hockey equipment and his customers include batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

The success in boxing at Olympics has motivated some of the sports goods manufacturers to add boxing equipment to their product portfolio. Some are even planning to start their manufacturing unit.

Raghunath S Rana, managing director, Ranson Sports Industry, also said the the Indian sports Industry will definitely benefit from the Olympics and he is ready to endorse pugilist Vijender Kumar for his brand.

The Jalandhar’s cricket bats, footballs, hockey sticks, rugby balls etc. have made their presence felt around the world. Last year, UK’s leading and the world’s largest supplier of rugby balls “ Webb Ellis” signed a three-year agreement with Jalandhar-based Chopra Synthetic Rubber Udyog for supply of rugby balls.

This was the first time that the UK firm signed an agreement with a Jalandhar-based firm, claimed Munish Chopra, director, Chopra Synthetic Rubber Udyog.

With the signing of the agreement, the Indian Rugby ball is all set to make their debut in almost 84 countries around the world. Apart from rugby balls, the company manufactures net ball, footballs and exports to Australia.