Sports Market
Indian Oil commits ₹40 crore to strengthen India’s boxing ecosystem
The two-year partnership with NSDF and SAI will support talent identification, athlete development, coaching, sports science, and international exposure.
The investment will support athlete development, coaching, sports science, boxing academies and international exposure. (Photo credit: Ministry of Sports/Facebook)
Indian boxing just got a ₹40 crore boost. The Indian Oil Corporation has decided to invest ₹40 crore over two years to strengthen India’s boxing ecosystem through a partnership with the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims to establish a structured development programme covering talent identification, athlete training, coaching and sports science. The initiative will also support boxing academies and provide international exposure to Indian boxers.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya said the partnership reflects the government’s push to expand corporate participation in sports development through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding.
“Under the revamped Khelo India Scheme, the Government is deepening collaboration with corporate partners, and CSR-backed partnerships like this will help build a truly national sports ecosystem,” Mandaviya said.
Focus on coaching, sports science and infrastructure
According to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Indian Oil’s ₹40-crore commitment will fund athlete development, strengthen boxing academies and build the capacity of coaches, referees and technical officials. The partnership will also support scientific training and access to competitive opportunities at national and international levels.
Mandaviya stressed that financial assistance alone would not be enough to build a sustainable boxing programme. He highlighted the need to invest in equipment, training facilities, sports science, talent identification and the development of coaches and officials.
The MoU brings together Indian Oil’s CSR funding, NSDF’s role in mobilising resources for sports development and SAI’s technical expertise. NSDF, established by the Government of India in 1998, supports initiatives including athlete development, sports infrastructure, specialised coaching, equipment and international exposure.
The agreement follows the inclusion of sports as a dedicated thematic area under the Department of Public Enterprises’ Common CSR Theme Framework, a move intended to encourage greater corporate investment in sports.
Building on India’s Asian Games performance
The partnership comes after Indian boxers won six medals at the 2026 Asian Games, including three gold and three bronze medals, according to the PIB release.
The programme aims to strengthen the pathway for both emerging and elite boxers by improving access to coaching, scientific support, facilities and international competition.
Mandaviya also called for corporate participation across sports, arguing that developing disciplines require sustained support before their ecosystems become self-sustaining and attract further investment.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Mandaviya, Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh, and Indian Oil’s Director of Human Resources, Rashmi Govil, among other officials.
The partnership places boxing among the disciplines receiving dedicated corporate backing through a government-supported framework, with the stated objective of strengthening athlete development and the wider support system around the sport.