About the Programme

The Indian Institute of Management Rohtak is proud to be the first among all IIMs to offer a Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Management for Executives. We invite online applications for the seventh batch of this specialized 16-month Programme, designed for experienced professionals, sports enthusiasts, and sports administrators. This Programme is tailored for dedicated participants aiming to work in the sports, entertainment, and related industries.

Graduates of the ePGDSM Programme will gain a comprehensive understanding of legal, regulatory, operational, financial, and branding concepts within the sports industry, both nationally and globally. This knowledge equips them to tackle challenges and carve out a niche in India’s burgeoning sports sector.

In developed nations, sports management is a highly professionalized field, with the global sports market estimated at USD 600-700 billion. Countries like the United States, Australia, Europe, and China have well-established sports leagues managed by professional managers. The domain of sports management includes various functions such as:

All these functions demand professional management. India's ambitions in the sports sector are growing as the country plans to bid for the 2030 Youth Olympic Games and the 2036 Olympic Games. Indian athletes have performed exceptionally well in various national and international sports events. For instance, Indian has shown remarkable achievements in the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and the Olympics, particularly in badminton, wrestling, boxing, and shooting. The recent successes in events like the Thomas Cup in badminton and the Tokyo Olympics have elevated India's status in the global sports arena.

India’s sports industry is no longer just about entertainment—it’s a full-fledged, high-growth business ecosystem.

As per industry insights, India’s sports market is projected to surpass $25 billion (₹2+ lakh crore) by 2030, driven by a surge in professional leagues, athlete marketing, digital fan engagement, and mega-events. The success of IPL catalyzed the rise of structured leagues like ISL, PKL, WPL, and more—creating a year-round commercial sporting calendar.

According to a KPMG India report, “Sports is now a business economy—requiring trained professionals across analytics, sponsorship, media, and operations.” With brands like JSW, Star Sports, Dream11, Tata, and Adidas investing aggressively, the demand for certified professionals has skyrocketed.

To further accelerate this growth, the Prime Minister’s Office recently reaffirmed India’s commitment to bid for the 2036 Olympics, setting the stage for large-scale infrastructure and workforce investment. The Government of India has also allocated ₹900 crore to the Khelo India programme in the 2024 Sports Budget, reaffirming the nation’s intent to nurture sports at every level—grassroots to elite.

This is where the IIM Rohtak Executive Programme in Sports Management (ePGDSM – Batch 07) plays a transformational role. It’s the only IIM-certified sports management diploma in India, designed to equip professionals, coaches, athletes, and career-switchers with real-world leadership and strategic skills to thrive in this booming, AI-proof industry.

Additionally, the Khelo India programme received the lion’s share of the total allocation of the Sports Budget 2024, with an allocation of Rs 900 crore out of the overall allocation of Rs 3442.32 crore. This significant investment underscores the importance of developing skilled sports management professionals to support and lead such large-scale national and international sporting events.

The booming sports industry is driving a surge in demand for skilled management professionals—this programme is designed to meet that need.