The first Indian Sports and Fitness Fair provides a level playing field for sports goods manufacturers.
Cricket in India overshadows all other sports. Although in recent years, others sports such as tennis and billiards have been able to attract youngsters, the overall awareness about health and fitness is very low. Recoginising this, the Ministry of Commerce and the sports Goods Export Promotion Council have organised the first Indian Sports and Fitness Fair at IITF'99. According to D K Mittal, chairman of the SGEPC, the main objective of this fair is to bring various sports goods manufacturers together so that export promotion and technology transfer can occur. He also hoped that the fair would prove to be testing ground for sports products.
There are about 35 stalls in this fair being held at Hall No 18, with strong participation from firms like BDM, Mayor International Ltd, Jagind Enterprises, Soccer International and Desan International. Some of the products on offer include indigenously built portable basketball baskets by Desan, massage armchairs and health equipment by Jagind Enterprises, international approved ISO 9002 quality Vector X soccer balls by Soccer International and Mayor basketballs and footballs by Mayor International.
Most exhibitors are quiet pleased with the good response to their products especially from the general visitor. Several were optimistic that sales would pick up during the course of the fair. Some participants hoped that the fair would become a permanent feature of the IITF and grow so musch that it could even be a completely separate fair. But most importantly, the participants hope that the fair will actively encourage more and more people especially the youth to take part in sporting activities. ption" content="">