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The Ratan Tata effect : A pioneer in shaping Indian sports

From cricket, football, hockey, to athletics, chess, squash, basketball, the Tata Group has been a pioneer in developing Indian sports.

The Ratan Tata effect : A pioneer in shaping Indian sports
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India's leading industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata passes away at the age of 86. (Photo Credit: LinkedIn)

By

Arjun Mylvahanan

Updated: 11 Oct 2024 9:44 AM GMT

The world is in mourning the passing of industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata, who died in Mumbai on Wednesday night.

Known globally for his visionary leadership, Tata’s influence extended far beyond industry, touching countless spheres of life, including Indian sports.

As tributes pour in from across the globe, the sports fraternity has fond memories of Tata’s immense contributions to India’s sports development.

The Tata Group’s impact on Indian sports spans decades.

Dating back to 1920, Sir Dorabji Tata, son of Tata Group founder Jamsetji Tata, sponsored India’s first Olympic team to the Antwerp Games.

This laid the foundation for the Tata Group’s enduring commitment to sports, which has remained integral to the company’s ethos.

Sir Dorabji also served as the first President of the Indian Olympic Association, and the Tata family’s legacy of promoting Indian athletics has only grown since.

Ratan Tata’s father, Naval Tata, was instrumental in elevating Indian hockey, leading the Indian Hockey Association for over a decade, during which India secured three consecutive Olympic gold medals.

Today, the Naval Tata Hockey Academy continues this mission, offering opportunities to underprivileged youth and nurturing the next generation of hockey stars.

The Tata Group’s investments in sports development has been nothing short of transformative.

From the J.R.D. Sports Complex, a world-class facility in Jamshedpur inaugurated in 1991, to the Tata Football Academy, renowned for producing top football talent, Tata’s involvement in sports has touched a wide range of disciplines.

Jamshedpur FC, which plays in the Indian Super League, remains the only team to own its stadium, further cementing the Tata Group’s deep-rooted commitment to sports infrastructure.

We at The Bridge bring to you a compilation of key investments and contributions made by the Tata Group in the world of Indian sports, and by doing so, pay our tribute to Ratan Tata.

J.R.D Sports Complex

An eight-lane synthetic track, international standard swimming pool, boxing center, facilities for basketball, skating, archery, handball, lawn tennis, etc, the J.R.D Sports Complex has it all.

Inaugurated in 1991, the 30-acre sports complex in Jamshedpur has facilities for running 18 sporting disciplines.

It also has an international standard football pitch and a 25,000 capacity stadium, which is the home of the Indian Super League (ISL) club Jamshedpur FC.

Interestingly, Jamshedpur FC is the only team in the ISL to have its own home stadium, while the rest rent out stadiums to play their matches.

Keenan Stadium

Opened in 1939, the 19,000 seater cricket stadium has hosted over a 100 Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy matches, along with multiple international matches as well.

In addition to that, the stadium is also used for football matches and more recently, it has been used to host archery events as well.

Tata Football Academy

Spread over 5 acre of land, the Tata Football Academy offers state-of-the-art footballing infrastructure to the developing players. It serves as the academy of Jamshedpur FC.

It is one of the most renowned football academies in the country. With air-conditioned hostels, floodlight lit football grounds, modern gymnasium, it offers the best environment for the next generation of footballers coming out of the country, more specifically, Jamshedpur.

Naval Tata Hockey Academy

Naval Tata's contributions towards hockey knows no end.

He served as the president of the Indian Hockey Association for more than a decade and under him, the Indian Hockey team won three consecutive Olympic gold medals.

The Naval Tata Hockey Academy, started more recently, has made it a mission to develop hockey in India and pick out talented youngsters from the marginalized and tribal sections of society and give them a helping hand in establishing a career in hockey.

Tata Archery Academy

Established in 1996, the TAA is a residential center of excellence to provide scientific training for archers and prepare them for national and international competitions.

The initiative specifically targeted the natural archery talent found within the significant tribal population of the Jharkhand-Odisha region.

With top infrastructure, coaches and other facilities, and competitive exposure to hone the archers skills and mindset, TAA has it all.

They have produced several world-class archers, most notably, Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, Komalika Bari, who won the women's recurve team gold in the 2021 Archery World Cup.

Tata Mumbai Marathon and Tata Ultra Marathon

Tata has been the title sponsor of the famous Mumbai Marathon since 2017. Seen as a way to engage with the community and a platform to raise funds for charity, the cause has paid dividends.

In 2019, the event raised more than Rs. 30 crore, all of which went to NGOs supporting various causes.

Saurav Ghosal and Tata Capital

One of India's finest squash players, Saurav Ghosal's career was given a major boost by the Tata Capital.

When he approached them with a request of a three-year sponsorship, they offered him a lifelong association, making him an employee at Tata Capital with full freedom to pursue his squash ambition without having to worry about financial constraints.

These are just a few of many sporting endeavors undertaken by the Tata Group.

Jamsetji Tata, a huge sports enthusiast and pioneer, got the ball rolling and that culture has been taken up by his lineage for over a century, impacting millions of lives and they have played a significant role in the development of Indian sports.

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