As India marches towards becoming a global sporting powerhouse, the importance of building inclusive, sustainable, and accessible sports infrastructure has never been greater. Sports are no longer just about competition—they are catalysts for better health, stronger communities, and youth empowerment.
In this exclusive interview with TheCSRUniverse, Nasir Ali, Founder & CEO of Gallant Sports & Infra, shares how sports infrastructure can become a high-impact area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India. He explores how sustainable sports facilities contribute to public health, environmental resilience, and grassroots talent development. From practical design principles and smart technologies to challenges like cost and policy gaps, Nasir highlights how CSR and public-private partnerships can bridge the divide. He also outlines Gallant’s vision for supporting India’s 2036 Olympic ambitions with green-ready infrastructure, backed by innovative financing models and success stories from the field.
Through his leadership at Gallant Sports and initiatives like Gallant Play, Nasir is redefining how corporates can invest in long-term, community-centric development—proving that when we build well, communities play, grow, and thrive.
Q&A
Q. Why should corporates look at sports infrastructure as a key area for CSR, and how does it compare to other traditional CSR priorities like education or healthcare?
A. At Gallant Sports, we believe sports infrastructure bridges multiple CSR domains—health, education, and community development. While traditional CSR in education and healthcare is essential, sports deliver compounded benefits: it fosters discipline, teamwork, and physical well-being, while also enhancing cognitive skills and emotional resilience.
Unlike short-term philanthropy, investments in sports leave behind tangible legacies—fields, tracks, multi-sport arenas—that continue to serve communities for decades. It’s a powerful, inclusive, and visible way for corporates to contribute to nation-building.
Q. What are the long-term societal benefits of building sustainable sports infrastructure, beyond cost savings, such as boosting community health, nurturing grassroots talent, or supporting climate resilience?
A. Sustainable sports infrastructure creates ripple effects across society. It promotes active lifestyles, reduces the prevalence of lifestyle diseases, and improves mental health. Importantly, it provides a structured environment where young people—especially in underserved areas—can discover their athletic potential.
Environmentally, green sports infrastructure enhances urban biodiversity, manages water resources through permeable surfaces and rainwater harvesting, and reduces emissions with solar-powered lighting. These facilities double as inclusive public spaces that strengthen community cohesion and civic pride.
Q. From your perspective, what are the key sustainable design principles or innovative technologies that sports infrastructure developers in India should adopt to reduce their environmental footprint?
A. At Gallant, we focus on practical, scalable design principles that combine sustainability with functionality:
-
Use of upcycled materials like recycled sports shoes for infill or base layers.
-
Modular and prefabricated construction to minimize waste and shorten build time.
-
Permeable surfaces and rainwater harvesting to address urban flooding.
-
Solar-powered lighting for arenas and sports parks.
-
Locally sourced materials to cut transportation emissions.
-
Digital twin technology and smart sensors to monitor usage and energy efficiency.
-
Multi-sport, space-efficient layouts that meet diverse community needs.
Sustainability isn’t just about materials—it’s about smarter planning and long-term adaptability.
Q. What are the biggest challenges in implementing sustainable sports infrastructure in India, whether it’s cost, awareness, or lack of policies, and how can CSR initiatives or public-private partnerships bridge these gaps?
A. There are four major roadblocks:
-
High upfront costs, even if lifecycle savings are significant.
-
Limited awareness of green design and available technologies.
-
Procurement systems that prioritize lowest bids (L1) over long-term quality.
-
Fragmented or unclear policies around sustainable construction.
CSR can play a catalytic role here. Corporates can:
-
Fund pilot projects that showcase green design.
-
Support training and capacity building for local contractors.
-
Partner with governments to develop model infrastructure in schools or community hubs.
-
Use CSR budgets to fund the "green premium"—better surfaces, smarter systems, and sustainable inputs that wouldn't otherwise fit into public budgets.
Q. How can integrating green spaces and biodiversity-friendly designs (e.g., urban sports parks) enhance grassroots-level talent development and community engagement while promoting sustainability?
A. Green sports parks break down multiple barriers. They’re accessible, non-intimidating, and serve a wide range of users—from first-time players to emerging athletes. By combining landscaped greenery, walking paths, native plants, and multi-sport courts, they create environments where children feel safe and motivated to explore sports.
Spontaneous play, a critical part of early-stage talent discovery, thrives in such settings. These parks also promote mental well-being, foster community ownership, and encourage intergenerational interaction. They’re places of joy, health, and possibility—all in one.
Q. With India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympics, how can companies like Gallant Sports play a role in ensuring a ‘green’ and 'sustainable' Olympic infrastructure?
A. We see the 2036 Olympics as an opportunity to lead globally on sustainable sports development.
Gallant Sports can contribute by:
-
Standardizing eco-certified surfaces like shock-absorbent PVC vinyl and modular tiles.
-
Retrofitting existing infrastructure instead of defaulting to new builds.
-
Providing turnkey, green facilities across rural and urban zones.
-
Training a local green workforce in sustainable construction techniques.
-
Supporting SAI excellence centres and partnering with state governments to scale Olympic-grade infrastructure sustainably.
Most importantly, we’re advocating for policy frameworks that embed green norms into every Olympic-related project—from procurement to maintenance.
Q. What innovative financing models can facilitate the development of sustainable sports infrastructure in India, and how can CSR initiatives play a role in de-risking these projects?
A. CSR can be the foundation of a de-risked, high-impact financing model for sustainable infrastructure.
We advocate for:
-
End-to-end sponsorships of multi-sport community facilities.
-
Cluster-based models where infrastructure is built across several schools or localities for maximum impact.
-
Shared-use agreements with schools, clubs, and communities to maximize facility utilization.
-
Simple, accountable project models over complex financial instruments—prioritizing transparency, maintenance, and accessibility.
With the right structure, CSR can absorb initial risks and unlock public and private co-investments.
Q. Have you seen examples where sustainable sports facilities have directly increased grassroots participation or performance? How can these success stories be scaled across the country through CSR funding?
A. Absolutely. Our Gallant Play centres across Delhi NCR are a case in point. Every month, they attract over 4,000 users—children, adults, and seniors. Many are returning to sport and fitness after years, rekindling community bonds and personal motivation.
In government schools we’ve supported, teachers report higher attendance, better student energy, and improved classroom behaviour—directly linked to access to play and movement.
To scale this nationally, CSR funds can:
-
Focus on clusters of schools or communities.
-
Support local coaching, operations, and upkeep.
-
Create clear pathways to elite centres like SAI.
-
Back awareness campaigns that connect sport with health and learning.
We’ve seen what works. Now it’s about multiplying that success across the country.
