Maharashtra best place in India for a career in sports, says report

Jobs that support and supplement sporting talent are increasingly gaining ground and Maharashtra is the best place for such opportunities, as the state contributes 23 per cent of all sports jobs in India, says a survey.

These jobs do not reflect sports profiles as pursued by athletes and sports professionals, but rather jobs that serve to support and supplement the key players on ground, the report said.

In recent years, roles such as sports physiotherapist, sports manager, sports photographer, sports analyst, sports commentators and sports journalist have come into the limelight, courtesy of high-profile cricket events.

According to data from job site Indeed, Maharashtra tops the chart followed by Karnataka, Telangana, New Delhi and Tamil Nadu, which contribute 16 per cent, 12 per cent, 11 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively. These states make up the leading five states in India for a career in sports.

"While the various state governments and the central government are doing their bit towards supporting and boosting sports development, the onus for this also lies with Corporate India a powerful force that can lead this transformation through their contribution," said Sashi Kumar, Managing Director, Indeed India.

Kumar further said that in the past few years, corporate associations have seen tremendous success, be it in kabbadi or football. The success of such initiatives should be encouragement enough for more companies to come forward and help in the development of the various sports that India is home to.