Where Will Children Play? The Future of Indian Sport Across Indian cities, children are running out of places to play. Grounds are being built over, parks restrict ball games, and schools often skip playgrounds altogether. At the same time, private academies are flourishing—raising performance levels but also putting access behind a fee.

In this episode of Game Play Sport, hosts Rahul, Arvind and Kailash are joined by Manuja Veerappa, senior sports journalist with The Times of India. Together, they explore the disappearance of playing spaces in Bengaluru, the rise of private academies, and what these shifts say about India’s sporting priorities.

Can India protect play for all—or will it belong only to those who can pay?

Watch the full episode now!

In this episode of Game Play Sport, we dive into the evolving story of India’s sports pay gap—how the difference in salaries and prize money between male and female athletes is finally starting to close. From the BCCI’s landmark equal pay announcements for women cricketers to the growing visibility of female athletes in badminton, wrestling, and football, we break down why this shift matters for gender equality in Indian sports today.

We are joined by Aradhana and Shravanti Mokashi — sisters, former state-level badminton players, and now coaches — who’ve spent decades navigating the realities of being women in a space still dominated by men.

We also unpack:

What Is the Gender Pay Gap in Indian Sports & Why Did It Persist So Long?

The Rise of Women’s Sports Sponsorship and Corporate Support

The Influence of Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta & Ashwini Ponnappa In Shaping The Next Generation of Female Athletes

The Economics Behind Equal Pay: Can It Last?

Watch this eye-opening discussion on gender equality, pay parity, and the challenges still ahead for women athletes in India. From cricket to the Olympics, discover how India is leading the way toward true sports pay equality—and what it means for the next decade of Indian athletes.

In this episode of Game Play Sport, we dive into how OTT platforms have changed the way Indians experience sports — shifting the focus from just scores and stats to drama, storylines, and spectacle. Sports Are the New Reality TV — And OTT Made It Happen. From behind-the-scenes docuseries to slow-motion replays and cinematic narratives, sport today feels more like a show than ever before. We explore why streaming is not just changing how we watch sports, but why we watch it in the first place.

Our hosts also talk about:

Why Sports Now Feel Like Reality TV

The Netflix Effect: How Streaming Built Star Power

All Access, All Drama: What Sports Docuseries Are Really Selling

Are We Watching for the Match or the Myth?

Don’t miss this sharp and timely conversation about how OTT platforms are rewriting the playbook for Indian sports fans, only on Radio Azim Premji University. Tune in NOW!

Special thanks to Manuja Veerappa for the interview.

Discover more shows in English, Hindi, and Kannada: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university

Follow us on Instagram: @radioazimpremjiuniv

Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Kruthika Rao, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Seshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

#GamePlaySport #Netflix #ott #Podcast #EducationAndSport #StayCurious #RadioAzimPremjiUniversity

In this episode of Game Play Sport, Rahul De, Kailash Kaushik, and Arvind Bharathi BN dive into fan anger in sports and the emotional core of Indian sports fandom. From Angry Rant Man’s YouTube meltdowns to the infamous 1996 Eden Gardens riot, our relationship with sport often crosses the line from passion to rage. In order to unpack this, we speak with Ryan Thomas Philips, a computational neuroscientist and Assistant Professor at Azim Premji University about how fans closely tie their identity and self-worth to their teams. They also talk about: What Goes On In Your Brain During Tense Sporting Moments! How Sports Commentary Has Changed Over The Years! How Catharsis Plays A Big Role In Fan Anger How Big An Arsenal Fan Is Rahul? Watch this incredibly insightful conversation about what fan anger in sports looks like & how fans closely tie their identity to their favourite sports teams… Tune in NOW! _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Special thanks to Ryan Thomas Philips for being part of this episode.

Identification Test Research Article: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232572704_Sports_fans_Measuring_degree_of_identification_with_their_team

Credit: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Kruthika Rao, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Seshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

Acknowledgements:

Video:

Person smashing keyboard | Video by Pexels

Images:

Arsenal Red Bistro Mug | Image courtesy: Arsenal Direct Arsenal

25/26 Home Jersey | Image courtesy: Arsenal Direct Arsenal Mousepad – | Image courtesy: Hepsiburada

News Articles:

Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open after media boycott | The Guardian, May 31, 2021 Australia beat India in one of the best Tests to take series lead | Al Jazeera, December 30, 2024 India beats New Zealand by four wickets in Champions Trophy final | Al Jazeera, March 9, 2025 Cricket World Cup: India’s heartbreak after loss to Australia | BBC News, November 20, 2023

In this bonus episode of Game Play Sport, we take a closer look at gym culture—who it was built for, and how it has changed.

Our conversation with Shwetambari Shetty, founder of My Third Space, traces how fitness spaces that once felt intimidating and exclusionary—especially for women—have slowly evolved into more welcoming environments. She reflects on how strength training was long seen as “not for women,” how both men and women were unsure of how to navigate gym equipment, and why group classes played a key role in making people feel more comfortable and connected.

This episode is not just about fitness—it’s about the cultural shift in how we view the gym floor, and how movement can become more accessible when it’s designed for community, not just performance.

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Discover more shows in English, Hindi, and Kannada: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university

Follow us on Instagram: @radioazimpremjiuniv

Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Kruthika Rao, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Seshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

In this episode of Game Play Sport, we explore how India’s gym culture has shifted—from basement weight rooms and bodybuilding ideals to wellness-focused routines and group classes. Shwetambari Shetty, founder of Third Space, joins the conversation to reflect on why gyms have felt intimidating for many, and how fitness trends are shaping access, comfort, and community today. They also talk about:

Listen now to understand what India’s changing fitness culture reveals about inclusion, gender, and who gets to move.

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Discover more shows in English, Hindi, and Kannada: https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/radio-azim-premji-university

Follow us on Instagram: @radioazimpremjiuniv

Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Kruthika Rao, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Seshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.

Why did we stop playing? Somewhere between growing up, sitting for exams, and cheering from the sidelines, most of us swapped the playground for the couch. In this opening episode of Game Play Sport, hosts Rahul De, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Sciences, Azim Premji University; Kailash Koushik, Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, Christ University; and Arvind Bharathi BN, Assistant Professor, School of Arts and Sciences, Azim Premji University, dust off old definitions and ask a simple question: what’s the difference between game, play, and sport? Is gully cricket with its ever-changing rules still a game? Is catching a frisbee in the park just play? And when does it all turn serious, with coaches, scorecards, and medals?

The trio takes us on a lively ride through childhood nostalgia, adult hang-ups, and society’s odd relationship with sports. Why does India cheer so much and play so little? What happens to fun when competition enters the room? And what if our schools treated play as essential, not extra? This episode is not just about sport, but about reclaiming the joy of movement—rules or no rules.

Credits: Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Kruthika Rao, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Sheshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar