New Delhi, Apr 28 (KNN) The Sports Goods Export Promotion Council (SGEPC) has informed that most of the sports equipment are manufactured by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector which operate with minimum technology, said Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Sarbananda Sonowal.

The Minister pressed upon the need to introduce technology to produce cost effective sports equipment which require technology.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today the Minister said, as informed by SGEPC, Sports equipment sector is not included in ‘Make in India’ programme presently.

The Minister further states that as per the information by SGEPC there are no big factories in India for manufacturing of sports equipment. Most of manufacturing process depends on the manual labour.

Major sports equipment made in India are inflatable balls, cricket equipment, boxing equipment, track and field equipment, table tennis, badminton, carom board etc. Most of sports equipment, which require technology like composite rackets, golf clubs, hiking equipment, water sports equipment etc. are not made in India.

The demand in India for these equipment is met through imports. There is definitely a need to introduce technology to produce cost effective sports equipment especially for above mentioned items, he said.