SportsBizEdu 2025: A Research-driven Approach to Sports, Business & Academia
The sports industry today is far more expansive than what unfolds on the field. It encompasses the business and science of sports, including many facets like leagues & sports events, broadcasting, marketing, PR, athlete management, sports analytics, sports psychology, sports technology, and sports medicine.
The entire ecosystem is extending as one of the fastest-growing sectors in India. Like any major industry, it is fuelled by tremendous opportunities yet challenged by gaps that need exploration. SportsBizEdu was envisioned to study these areas, identify the hurdles, highlight the untapped potential, and bring together future leaders, educators, and researchers on a common platform that encourages academic inquiry and strategic thinking.
The Vision Behind SportsBizEdu
Research and development are the backbone of progress in any field. For an industry to grow sustainably, it must continuously examine its ecosystem, identify gaps, evaluate needs, and uncover opportunities. SportsBizEdu is designed with this mission at its core. It serves as a collaborative platform linking sports, education, and business, while also examining the influence and impact of the National Education Policy (NEP) on these sectors.
SportsBizEdu Research Conference 2025
By enabling researchers and academics from diverse domains to present their work, the initiative encourages exploration of lesser-discussed themes and nurtures thought leadership. The insights generated not only enrich collective knowledge but also strengthen the academic frameworks within sports management, sports science, and related disciplines.
Ultimately, the research from SportsBizEdu empowers IISM faculties with updated perspectives, enabling them to integrate these findings into pedagogy and advance the future of sports education in India.
SportsBizEdu 2025
Building on the momentum of its debut edition last year, the SportsBizEdu Research Conference 2025 returned for its second successful year on November 18th and 19th at IISM. The two-day conference gathered policy thinkers, scholars, and innovators from across the sports education spectrum. It featured insightful presentations, enriching workshops, and masterclasses, covering sports science, sports psychology, innovation, entrepreneurship, athlete development, and sports event management.
On day 1 of the conference, Dr Sanika Divekar (Senior Sports Psychologist – MPower) and Ms Mugdha Bavare (Founder, Sports & Counselling Psychologist, Founder – Mindsports) conducted very insightful workshops on Sports Psychology.
The conference’s final day featured presentations by participants, where researchers showcased their studies and insights. Each presentation highlighted diverse perspectives, explored emerging trends in the sports ecosystem, and sparked engaging discussions among the attendees.
Here are our phenomenal winners from the SportsBizEdu Research Conference 2025:
In the Management Track, the top prize for Full Paper went to Mr Hatim Jabalpurwala & Ms Tripti Singh, with Mr Shreya Kuruhuri taking second. IISM Prof. Kinjal Mehta won the first prize in the Extended Abstract category, while IISM Prof. Nidhi Kothari claimed first place in the Poster Presentation.
In the Science Track, Mr Durgaraj Konar won first place for Full Paper, followed by Ankita Saroj. For the Poster Presentation, Ms Ankita Saroj & Mr Puneet Dwivedi won first place, and there was a tie for second between the duos of Ms Shreeya Dighe & IISM Prof. Ms Ayushi Dhakate and Ms Priyal Karania.
In the Entrepreneurship Track, Mr Parthiev K.S. came in first, Mr Dhyey Parekh & Mr Mohammad Hassan Deshmukh placed second, and Ms Shreeya Dighe & Ms Amirah Asif Mirza secured third place.
SportsBizEdu 2025 Jury members and Guests
To guide and evaluate the remarkable work, the esteemed jury panel included:
- Mr Vishnu Govind (Professor of Practice at IISM & Founder, Add Valorem),
- Dr Yuvraj Singh (Sports & Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist),
- Ms Vasanthi Kadhiravan (Associate Dean, Sports Science at IISM),
- Dr Priya Jaiswal (Sports Physiotherapist & Athlete Development Specialist, D.Y. Patil Sports & High Performance Centre),
- Dr Kavita Mathad (Professor & Dean – School of Business, Indira University),
- Dr Farida Virani (Professional HRM & Behavioural Sciences – METIOM),
- Mr Dipesh Mohile (Angel Investor & Founder/CEO – Think Beyond Numbers), and
- Prof. Shankar Murthy (Professor & Chair – CSR Activities, IIM Mumbai).
The conference was graced by the presence of the Chief Guest, Mr Uday Wankawala, CEO of Atal Incubation Centre – Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, and the Guest of Honor, Dr Keyurkumar Nayak, Director of Garware Institute of Career Education and Development. They were joined by Mr Nilesh Kulkarni, Founder-Director of IISM, and Mrs Rasika Kulkarni, Co-founder.
Beyond the wealth of market insights and research-driven learnings, SportsBizEdu truly showcased a one-of-a-kind platform that fostered peer networking and collaboration among leading academicians, students, and industry thinkers. By bringing diverse minds together under one roof, the conference not only broadened perspectives but also planted the seeds for innovative research and academic growth in the sports ecosystem.
As SportsBizEdu 2025 concludes its second successful edition, it continues to strengthen its vision, cultivating a vibrant ecosystem where sports, business, and education intersect to shape the next generation of leaders and researchers.
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