Jalandhar’s sports goods manufacturing industry stands to gain from increased government investment and recent trade pacts with the EU and UK, though opinions on immediate benefits remain divided amid concerns over procurement policies and ground-level action.
When Narendra Modi visited Jalandhar three weeks ago, his push for a stronger sporting ecosystem under the expanded Khelo India programme struck a chord with the city’s sports goods makers, who see new public spending and trade agreements as a possible lift for both domestic sales and exports. Tribune India reported that manufacturers are also watching the recently concluded India-European Union free trade agreement and the India-UK trade deal for signs of lower costs and wider market access.
The timing matters for Jalandhar, which remains one of India’s main centres for sports goods production and turns out everything from footballs and cricket bats to protective gear, hockey sticks, volleyballs, boxing gloves, athletics equipment and training aids. The Khelo India Mission, launched in 2017, is the government’s flagship grassroots sports programme and is linked to long-term goals of improving participation, infrastructure and athlete development.
The Centre has raised the Khelo India allocation to ₹29,054 crore for the five-year period from 2026-27 to 2030-31, a step manufacturers expect could increase procurement by schools, Khelo India Centres, academies and district sports authorities as the programme expands. That, in turn, could strengthen demand for equipment made in Jalandhar and support the city’s export-facing industry.
But business leaders are split on how much immediate benefit will follow. TYKA Sports managing director Rajan Kohli told Tribune India that while the policy direction looks promising, government purchasing often goes to the lowest bidder, which can squeeze quality. He said the India-UK trade deal could be more valuable for the sector if it brings an estimated 10% cut in duties. By contrast, Nivia Sports’ Rajesh Kharbanda said Jalandhar and Meerut should be seen as complementary manufacturing hubs rather than rivals, arguing that both can gain from the wider push in sports spending. Hockey Olympian and former Punjab minister Pargat Singh, however, was more sceptical, saying the Centre and state governments were producing announcements without enough action on the ground.
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