India is to become the youngest country in the world by 2025, with 63% of the population to be youth and the youth of India is the future of Indian Sports. If you have an inborn passion for sports then it’s the perfect and rewarding career opportunity. As well as Engagement in Sports keeps you physically fit and keep your mind good. The success of sports people in the recent international sports events has brought the focus to sports careers.  You can make your career in any sports depending on what sports interests you. Various sports fields are Cricket, Badminton, Football, Hockey etc. You can get training from various institutes and academies under the Sports Authority of India (SAI) that trains young talents to transform them into talented sportspersons.  Indian Sports has opened up many career opportunities for young talents in India. You can give anearly start to your career in school or college and start playing at the State level, Regional level and then explores opportunities at national and international levels. The salary of sportspersons totally depends on the sports game that he has chosen and the sportsperson capability to deliver excellent performance consistently. Initial salary of the sports person is approx. Rs. 3 Lac to Rs 5 Lac per year. When one becomes a successful sportsman, earnings can range from 20 lakhs to 5 crores per annum. Indian sports personalities have been a great inspiration to many Indians. From Sachin Tendulkar and Dhyan Chand to Saina Nehwal and Sushil Kumar, sportsmen and sportswomen have brought pure joy to a nation otherwise embroiled in the hustle and bustle of climbing the socio-economic ladder.

Cricket

Cricket is the most loved sport across India. The cricketers can be a part of a state team, county team, and the national team. Most of the cricket players aspire to play international for their national team. Players are generally contracted by a governing board. In India, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) is responsible for arranging international cricket matches. Players are paid by their respective governing boards and they are generally required to adhere to a certain code of conduct that is set by the board. In some countries, cricket players are allowed to seek private sponsorships under certain limitations. The annual income of a cricketer ranges between 20lakhs to 2 crores per annum.

Badminton

Generally, badminton is played at the State level, international and world-class level. Players are usually selected from a very young age of 12 for the international levelby the nation’s badminton association. Then the players go through intense training to improve their fitness and badminton skills. Similar to the international level, state badminton players compete within the country but their training schedule is not as tight as the national players. However, badminton players at the state level seldom play badminton full time as there are not many opportunities at the state level. Young teenagers are trained at the state level after their schooling hours .The annual salary of a successful badminton player ranges between 50 lakhs to 2 crores. Saina Nehwal; a successful Indian badminton player is very much in the mainstream for her incredible skills.

Football

FIFA (Federation International de Football Association) that has been established on four major states of the country i.e. Mumbai, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi) in collaboration with All India Football Federation. Moreover, its academy has been developed in Gangtok as well as in Bangalore. Since the sports infrastructure as established in the country, FIFA is receiving extraordinarily mammoth craze among players in India. However, FIFA is still working a lot to popularize football in India. India Fitness is the backbone of any game, especially for the football game and one has to work hard to succeed in the game. Diet is another factor that brings a lot of change in the player’s body and helps in remaining fit. One has to follow a strict diet under the surveillance of a trainer to get better results. Joining a reputed football academy and club is the most important factor. It will help you get the guidance of the game under coaches. Lastly, professionalism matters the most in the game. So, it’s important to follow what is required to become a professional player such as going for practice matches, using proper types of equipment, etc. Football player Sunil Chhetri is amongst the top 5 players internationally. The annual salary of a footballer who plays national and international ranges between 10 lakhs to 80 lakhs.

Hockey

Being the national game, Hockey has a glorious past in India. India has been the most successful team in the field hockey With 11 Olympic medals – 8 Gold, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals. Despite languishing in the 5th spot in the World rankings currently, India has produced many top players throughout her history. Although India has petered away of late, her achievements are unparalleled and when talking about the best hockey players, no list would be complete without including players from the subcontinent. There have been plenty of players who have captured the attention of the viewers with scintillating stick work, mazy runs, brilliant defending and their goal-scoring prowess. Udham Singh was one of India’s finest hockey players in India. He is the most successful Indian Olympian, winning 3 Olympic gold medals and 1 silver medal. Salary of an Indian hockey player ranges between 40 lakhs to 70 lakhs.

Career in sports is vast, and opportunities are unlimited.  An individual should focus on its strengths and interests. Sports in India is no longer just about a game on the field, but it is also about the popularity and the pride it brings.  This confluence has turned athletes into sports stars and has sparked a need to skillfully manage both the players and the game.