SportsBizEdu 3.0 – A Day Full of New Ideas to Take India’s Sports Legacy Ahead

What does it take to build the future of Indian sport?

More than athletes and stadiums, it takes ideas, research, science, technology, better systems and people willing to question how things can be done differently.

That was the spirit behind SportsBizEdu 3.0, the third edition of IISM’s International Research Conference, held on 22nd August 2026.

Centred around the theme “Sports for Viksit Bharat: Building a Future-Ready Nation Through Skill, Science & Innovation,” the conference brought together researchers, academics and sports industry professionals to explore ideas that can contribute to the growth of India’s rapidly evolving sports ecosystem.

Held in a hybrid format, SportsBizEdu 3.0 opened the doors to wider participation while giving researchers a platform to present their work, exchange perspectives and receive feedback from experienced academics and industry professionals.

For IISM, the objective went beyond hosting an academic event. It was about encouraging students and researchers to approach sport with curiosity, research rigour and the confidence to contribute to the industry’s future.

“I feel for any institution to grow, conferences of this nature are extremely important, and I am so happy that IISM has started this initiative.”

— Ms. Rasika Kulkarni, Co-founder & Managing Director, IISM

Theme: Sports for Viksit Bharat

India’s sporting ambitions are growing rapidly. Keeping this larger picture in mind, SportsBizEdu 3.0 explored the theme:

“Sports for Viksit Bharat”

Building a Future-Ready Nation Through Skill, Science & Innovation

The theme brought together multiple disciplines and perspectives, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of the sports industry.

A Gathering of Academic and Industry Expertise

The event was graced by Ms. Rasika Kulkarni, Co-founder and Managing Director, IISM; Mr. Amitava Pal, Associate Dean, IISM; Mr. Amit Gupte, COO, IISM; and Ms. Avanti Desai, Head of Academics, IISM.

Their presence added valuable perspective to a day centred around learning, research and new ideas.

The presentations were evaluated by a distinguished jury comprising academics, researchers and industry professionals from leading institutions in India and across the world.

Management Track Jury

• Dr. Shankar Murthy — Former Dean and Professor, Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai

• Dr. Kritika Tekwani — Academic Associate, Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai

• Dr. Naga Venkatesh — Dean (Academics), Goa Institute of Management

• Dr. Garima Malik — Associate Professor, Birla Institute of Management Technology

• Dr. James Musgrave — Head of Sports Management, Carnegie School of Sport

• Prof. Paula Bajdor — Associate Professor, Warsaw University of Technology

• Dr. Ewelina Idziak — Rector’s Plenipotentiary & Associate Professor, Kazimierz Wielki University

• Dr. Aastha Tripathi — Assistant Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences

• Dr. Saamta Jain — Chief People Officer, Jewelex Group

• Dr. S.D. Mishra — Professor & Director, Sardar Patel University

Science Track Jury

• Dr. Pralay Majumdar — Adjunct Professor and Senior Project Consultant, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

• Dr. Sanika Divekar — Senior Sports Psychologist, MPower

• Dr. Jyotika Saxena — Co-founder, Aspire and Incept Wellbeing Services

Their expertise brought depth to the discussions and gave researchers an opportunity to engage with perspectives from both academia and the sports industry.

Ceremonial Lamp to the Research Floor

SportsBizEdu 3.0 began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, led by Co-founder Ms. Rasika Kulkarni alongside members of the jury present on campus.

This was followed by the felicitation of the jury members, recognising their time, expertise and contribution to the event.

Soon after, the researchers moved into their respective sessions, where ideas moved from paper to conversation.

14 Tracks Exploring the Future of Sport

One of the defining aspects of SportsBizEdu 3.0 was its multidisciplinary approach.

Researchers presented full papers and ideas across 14 specialised tracks, covering some of the most relevant areas of contemporary sports management and sports science.

1. Marketing, Communications, Branding & Fan Engagement – Track 1  

Mr. Adit Waikul, along with mentor Prof. Karan Mange, won Gold for the full paper presentation.

Mr. Sanchit Desai won Gold for the idea presentation.

2. Marketing, Communications, Branding & Fan Engagement – Track 2  

Ms. Aditi Singh won Gold for the idea presentation.

Mr. Darshan Bhanushali won Silver for the idea presentation.

3. Marketing, Communications, Branding & Fan Engagement – Track 3  

Ms. Aayushi Bang won Gold for the idea presentation.

Mr. Stephan Tigga won Silver for the idea presentation.

4. Finance, Sports Economics & Business Models – Track 1  

Ms. Huda Fakih won Gold for the full paper presentation.

Ms. Aditi Krishnamurthy won Gold for the idea presentation.

Mr. Moksh Ritesh Shah won Silver for the idea presentation.

5. Finance, Sports Economics & Business Models – Track 2  

Ms. Vaishnavi Namdeo won Gold for the idea presentation.

Ms. Kamna Sharma won Silver for the idea presentation.

6. HR, Talent Management & Organisational Behaviour  

Mr. Eustace Saldanha won Gold for the full paper presentation.

Mr. Rishit Roy won Gold for the idea presentation.

Mr. Naman Gorey won Silver for the idea presentation.

7. CSR, Social Impact, Inclusion & Grassroots Development – Track 1  

Ms. Diksha Gorivale, with mentor Prof. Nidhi Kothari, won Gold for the full paper presentation.

Mr. Anuj Jadhav won Gold for the idea presentation.

Mr. Aaditya Bramha won Silver for the idea presentation.

8. CSR, Social Impact, Inclusion & Grassroots Development – Track 2  

Ms. Sanika Sandeep Joshi won Gold for the idea presentation.

Mr. Archit Sawant won Silver for the idea presentation.

9. Operations, Event Management, Logistics & Infrastructure – Track 1  

Mr. Shreyash Rajeshwar Kadam won Gold for the full paper presentation.

Mr. Dhruvil Sathwara won Gold for the idea presentation.

10. Operations, Event Management, Logistics & Infrastructure – Track 2  

Mr. Deekshith won Gold for the full paper presentation.

Mr. Nisarg Brahmbhatt won Gold for the idea presentation.

11. Psychology, Mental Resilience & Behavioural Science – Track 1  

Mr. Nithilan Eric Kinattuvilai won Gold for the full paper presentation.

Mr. Devaanshu Seth won Gold for the idea presentation.

12. Psychology, Mental Resilience & Behavioural Science – Track 2  

Ms. Priyal Karania won Gold for the full paper presentation.

Ms. Mahek Nishar won Gold for the idea presentation.

Ms. Richa Raul won Silver for the idea presentation.

13. Sports Technology, Data Analytics & Biomechanics  

Mr. Presley Andrade won Gold for the idea presentation.

14. Exercise Science, Sports Medicine, Nutrition & Athlete Health  

Ms. Shreeya Dighe won Gold for the full paper presentation.

Ms. Manasi Satalkar won Silver for the full paper presentation.

Mr. Gatik won Gold for the idea presentation.

A Platform for Better Ideas

The value of a research conference doesn’t just lie in the papers presented, but also in what happens when those ideas are questioned, challenged and refined.

At SportsBizEdu 3.0, the jury’s feedback gave participants the opportunity to look at their work from new perspectives, understand the nuances of research and identify ways to strengthen their ideas.

For emerging researchers, that exchange can be just as valuable as the presentation itself.

It transforms research from something that sits on paper into something that can spark discussion, invite collaboration and potentially contribute to real-world change.

Celebrating the Researchers

Congratulations to all the winners of SportsBizEdu 3.0 for bringing their ideas, research and perspectives to the platform.

At the same time, every participant deserves appreciation for stepping forward and sharing their work with an audience of academics and industry professionals.

Because meaningful research does not always begin with having all the answers.

Sometimes, it begins with asking a better question.

A Step Forward for Indian Sports Research

SportsBizEdu 3.0 was a day of ideas, conversations and perspectives spanning the many dimensions of sport.

From sports management and marketing to sports science, psychology, technology, finance and grassroots development, the event highlighted one important reality: the future of Indian sport will be built by many disciplines working together.

As India continues to strengthen its position on the global sporting stage, platforms that encourage research, innovation and knowledge-sharing become increasingly important.

And that is what SportsBizEdu hopes to continue building, a space where ideas meet expertise, research meets industry, and today’s questions can help shape tomorrow’s sports ecosystem.