SportingIndia is redefining how India engages with sport. As the nation’s first AI-driven sports directory, it functions as a dynamic digital crossroads where athletes, coaches, academies, federations, and businesses converge. Its mission is audacious yet straightforward: to make India’s sporting ecosystem visible, searchable, and seamlessly interconnected.
Founded in 2014 by SportingIndia Sports News Media Pvt. Ltd., the platform is rapidly scaling toward becoming India’s largest sports directory. Leveraging AI, it converts a fragmented and scattered landscape into an organized, intelligent network. This network fosters discovery, opportunity, and collaboration—spanning grassroots aspirants to elite professionals.
SportingIndia is far more than a database. It is an ecosystem-builder. By bridging communication gaps and amplifying access, it democratizes opportunity and energizes the nation’s sporting ambitions. In doing so, the platform positions itself not merely as a directory but as the digital backbone of India’s sporting future.
In an exclusive conversation with The Interview World at PLAYCOM 2025, Senthil Kumar AS, Managing Director of SportingIndia, delves into the company’s AI-driven products and services. He highlights the scale and depth of the curated datasets, explains how the platform accelerates sports development across India, and outlines the broad spectrum of sports disciplines represented. Here are the key insights from his illuminating discussion.
Q: What are the key AI-driven products and services offered by SportingIndia?
A: Technically, SportingIndia functions as a comprehensive sports directory, mapping sports bodies, associations, and coaches across India. The platform operates on two verticals. The first is the personal vertical, which includes coaches, referees, medical doctors, sports physicians, and physiotherapists. The second is the business vertical, encompassing sports retail shops, institutions, and clubs.
The core challenge we identified is the lack of an integrated sports ecosystem in India. While sports organizations exist across the country, they operate in silos. No single platform currently lists who does what and where on a pan-India scale. SportingIndia aims to fill this gap.
AI drives the platform’s capabilities. We leverage it not as a trend but as a tool to deliver meaningful results. Our AI surpasses traditional methods through advanced natural language processing, allowing users to interact in multiple languages. For instance, if someone asks in Hindi, “How many nutritionists are within a five-kilometer radius?” the platform generates a curated list of profiles, not vague numbers. Users can access detailed information, visit locations, check ratings, and make informed choices.
Similarly, for sports businesses, AI identifies top-rated retail shops or coaching academies, such as the leading archery institute in a region. Every query, whether personal or business-related, is intelligently handled, providing precise, actionable insights.
This is the vision we are bringing to life: a seamlessly connected, AI-powered sports ecosystem that bridges gaps, enhances discovery, and empowers India’s sporting community.
Q: Can you elaborate on the volume and coverage of your curated datasets?
A: We acquire data for our platform through two primary methods. The first is volunteer registration, where stakeholders actively provide their information. The second is direct data collection conducted by our team. To date, we have gathered approximately 75,000 records spanning the entire sports ecosystem. Despite this, volunteer registrations remain our primary and most reliable source of data.
Q: How does your platform contribute to the growth and development of sports in the country?
A: At its core, the challenge we address is discoverability. Many talented coaches and sports operators remain unaware of each other, even when they live in the same building or neighbourhood for years. This gap is especially pronounced in rural areas, where access to information is limited.
Our mission is simple yet powerful: to map who is where and what they do. By solving this discoverability problem, we connect people, opportunities, and expertise across the country. This clarity defines our purpose and positions us at the heart of India’s evolving sports ecosystem.
Q: Can you share the range of sports disciplines included on your platform?
A: Currently, our platform accommodates 31 distinct subcategories of sports personnel, covering every key role within the ecosystem. In parallel, we offer 24 business categories for registration, ensuring comprehensive representation of sports institutions, retail outlets, and service providers. This structured approach allows users to navigate the sports landscape with precision and clarity.
1 Comment
You made some excellent points here. Well done!
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