As the Joint Secretary heading a division in a Government of India department, I currently oversee the governance of critical entities such as National Sports Federation, National Centre for Sports Science & Research (NCSSR), National Sports University, and Laxmibai National Institute of Physical Education. My earlier role as Chief Electoral Officer in Goa involved managing the conduct of elections, showcasing my diverse experience. In policy-making, I have served as Secretary/Special Secretary in various departments, including Power, New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Labour, Fishery, Finance, and Vigilance. My leadership roles in district administration at Siaha, Mizoram, and East District Delhi involved a wide array of responsibilities, such as general administration, coordination among departments, implementation of government schemes, disaster management, law & order, and overseeing Revenue Courts and appeals under different laws.

Beyond my professional commitments, I find joy in birding, biking, and reading. These personal interests complement my multifaceted career, emphasizing a well-rounded approach to life.

Mr. Ashish Bhargava, a civil servant with a decade-long track record in public policy and administration, recently assumed the role of Director General and Chief Executive Officer at India's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). His commitment to public service and dedication to transparency and good governance have been consistent themes throughout his career. With a background in Economics, including degrees from the University of Delhi and a MicroMasters from MIT, Bhargava's academic journey exemplifies his passion for addressing societal issues. In his capacity at NADA, Bhargava envisions a future where athletes can compete in a fair and clean environment. Beyond national borders, he aims to establish international collaborations, fostering partnerships with anti-doping agencies and sports organizations. This includes advocating for cutting-edge technological interventions to protect athletes adhering to regulations. Simultaneously, Bhargava emphasizes the importance of awareness and education, seeking to instill a culture of clean and ethical competition by enlightening athletes, coaches, and stakeholders about the risks associated with doping. Under his leadership, NADA is poised to play a pivotal role in global anti-doping initiatives, ensuring the integrity of sports on both national and international platforms..

Dr. Athulya Misra, a distinguished member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) from the 1988 batch of the Tamil Nadu Cadre, currently serves as the Additional Chief Secretary in the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department. Throughout his illustrious career, he has held several pivotal roles, showcasing exemplary leadership and commitment to public service. From steering TNPFC Ltd. as Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman/Managing Director to contributing significantly to the economic landscape as Principal Secretary in the Industries Department, his expertise has spanned diverse sectors, including environmental matters as Chairman of the Pollution Control Board.

Dr. Athulya Misra's rich history of public service includes roles such as Commissioner of the Sugar Department, Member Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), and Commissioner of Social Welfare. His diverse experiences, from serving as District Collector in Villupuram to holding positions in New Delhi and contributing to literary pursuits with authored books, "Oxygen Manifesto - A Battle for the Environment" and "Vultures of Paradise," underscore his multifaceted contributions. His remarkable career is a testament to his administrative acumen, dedication to public service, and unwavering commitment to environmental causes.

J. Meghanath Reddy, a native of Kadapa Dist, Andra Pradesh, shaped his academic foundation at St Joseph’s and Aditya High School, Proddatur, and Sri Chaitanya, Vijayawada. With a B.A. from Nizam College, Hyderabad, and an MA in Economics from Hyderabad Central University, he embarked on a path of academic excellence. His dedication to public service led him to secure the 55th rank in the All India Civil Services Examination in 2013. Following intensive IAS training in Mussorie from 2014 to 2015, he assumed pivotal roles such as Sub Collector in Mettur, showcasing versatility and administrative acumen in subsequent positions like JCLA, JC LTU, and Deputy Commissioner (DC) R&F in Chennai.

Notably, during his tenure as District Collector in Virudhunagar District, J. Meghanath Reddy introduced the innovative "Coffee with Collector" initiative, engaging with children from government schools weekly. Since February 2, 2023, he has assumed the role of Member Secretary and CEO of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu in Chennai, demonstrating unwavering commitment to community development and administrative excellence. His ongoing contributions highlight his dedication to societal advancement and effective governance.

Mr Chanakya Chaudhary was appointed as Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, in November 2018, where he is responsible for spearheading branding and communication strategy along with policy advocacy and regulatory affairs for the company. His portfolio also includes various functions like Corporate Social Responsibility, Medical Services, Corporate Administration, Security Services, Aviation Services and Sports. He serves as the chairman on the Board of Tata Steel Utilities & Infrastructure Services Ltd., Tata Steel Special Economic Zone Ltd, Hockey Ace Foundation, Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Pvt. Ltd

Abhishek brings a wealth of expertise two-decade career. His distinguished leadership roles in product management, business development, and marketing have been pivotal in launching cutting-edge sports technology products and solutions. He boasts a track record of transforming startups from their nascent stages to signing multi-million-dollar contracts within few years, demonstrating his profound impact in the Sports Technology sector. Abhishek has also played a pivotal role in high-profile primarily centered on Sports Technology and Sports Advisory, garnered throughout his illustrious technology related acquisitions, including one for over $300 million, further solidifying his reputation as a key player in the industry. Additionally, with two pending patents in the application of IoT/ML and computer vision technologies tailored specifically for sports, he continues to be a driving force in advancing innovation within the Sports Technology domain. He has an MBA from UCLA Anderson and an MS in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University

Mr Shiva Keshavan is a 6-time winter Olympian, having set an Olympic record at 16 years of age in 1998, as the youngest ever athlete to qualify in Luge.

A sport that involves hurling down an ice track at speeds of 150 km per hour, Shiva won India's first ever international medal in a winter sport. He went on to win 4 Asian Championships Gold medals, 4 Silver and 2 bronze medals and holds three Asian records for speed, track and start. Shiva's achievement have earned him the unique distinction of being the only Arjuna Awardee in winter sports.

He is an alumnus of the Lawrence School, Sanawar and studied Political Science with a master's in international relations at the university of Florence, Italy.

He is currently a member of the Indian Olympic Association and Olympic Council of Asia Athletes Commissions and the founding President of the Olympians Association of India. Shiva serves on the Khelo India Winter Games Committee. He a World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Ambassador for clean sport.

In his professional capacity, Shiva currently Heads Olympic Sports Scholarships program at Reliance Foundation

Abhinav Shrivastava is a commercial and transaction lawyer who is a Partner with LawNK, a boutique law-firm in Bangalore that practices sports, media and technology law.

He is engaged in the Sports, Technology, Corporate and Data Protection practices of the firm and regularly advises clients on commercial and regulatory issues on matters concerning sports governance, league/franchise operations, gaming (especially sports-based gaming such as fantasy sports), privacy and data protection, foreign-investment, ecommerce, e-health and health-tech, sponsorship and endorsements, and licensing and merchandising. He writes and comments on regulatory and governance matters in sport, gaming and technology.

Honored with the prestigious Dronacharya Award and the UP Yash Bharati Award, the individual in focus has significantly impacted Indian Para badminton. Their remarkable coaching prowess has resulted in the production of four Arjuna Awardees in Para Badminton, showcasing the caliber of athletes they have nurtured. Over the last four years, their dedication and expertise have been instrumental in elevating the standard of Indian Para badminton. This is evidenced by an outstanding track record, delivering a total of 341 medal-winning performances, including a remarkable 103 Golds. Through their relentless efforts, they have not only brought recognition to the sport but have also played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of para athletes, leaving an indelible mark on the Para badminton landscape in India.

Rishikesh Joshi, Founder & Managing Director, Sports for All. He did Masters in Sports Management from Australia & Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology . A Specialist in Multi -Sport Platform Optimization. He was National & State Athlete up to the age of 20 , across 6 Sports Disciplines. 17 + Years in Professional Sports Marketing & Administration. 7.5+ Years as Core Member of the Administrative Team Managing the Mumbai Indians (IPL Franchise)

Kumudavalli comes with over 7 years of work experience specializing in Sports Law. Post her master’s in International Sports Law from Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía, Madrid, Spain she joined the Legal Affairs and International Relations team of the governing body of football in India - the All-India Football Federation (the “AIFF”). At the AIFF, Kumudavalli handled work in the governance, disciplinary, regulatory, commercial and litigation spheres. She has represented the AIFF before various Courts pan India as well as before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. Post her stint at the AIFF, she went on to assist the Returning Officer in conducting the elections of the Indian Olympic Association. She now heads the sports law practice at Sarvada Legal - a full service law firm in New Delhi- India. She is also a consultant for several sporting organisations globally including the ASEAN Football Federation.

Sonali Chander is an award winning sports anchor and journalist, with 20 years of experience in television. During her stint as Sports Editor at NDTV, India’s first 24 hour news channel, she was responsible for anchoring and creating India's first daily sports show in 2001. She has travelled extensively to cover Indian cricket in Pakistan, South Africa & Sri Lanka. Sonali has been a 2-time winner of the best sports anchor award at the Hero Honda Indian Television Awards. Her weekly show ‘Cricket Controversies’ which ran for five years with Navjot Sidhu and Ajay Jadeja was named the best sports chat show by the Indian Telly Awards. Sonali has in the past worked closely with the government & Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor on the ‘Marks for Sports’ campaign which set out a course for state governments to make sports a part of the school curriculum. More recently she’s been involved as a consultant & trainer with her husband’s sports production company, Sportzworkz.

Vidushpat, Co-author of the book 'Law and Sports in India,' holds a prominent role in the sports and gaming landscape. Serving on the Election Oversight Panel of World Athletics (IAAF) and World Sailing’s Appeals Committee, he is a founding member of SPORTSCOM, a key figure in FICCI National Sports Committee and ASSOCHAM Sports Committee. As a consultant with the UK-India Business Council’s gaming and leisure group, Vidushpat played a crucial role in drafting India’s National Sports Development Bill, Prevention of Sporting Fraud Bill, and anti-doping legislation. His extensive involvement includes serving as the secretary of the Supreme Court-appointed committee probing matchfixing in the Indian Premier League, addressing governance issues in Indian Olympic Association, Hyderabad Cricket Association, and the All India Football Federation. With over 100 antidoping cases and representation before the Court of Arbitration for Sports, Vidushpat is a member of the Indian Super League’s regulatory commission. He offers strategic counsel to commercial leagues globally, spanning cricket, football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, carrom, and futsal, and provides advisory services to state governments and countries on gaming laws formulation, M&A in the sports and gaming sector, and diverse gaming operators.

Neel Shah has nearly 2 decades of experience working in the development and commercialization of football across North America, Europe and India and has been in the forefront to connect the East with the West through sport. He worked with a number of high-profile football clubs to establish or build their business within India, including FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool FC. He has also helped grow Major League Soccer’s fanbase for a period of 7 years as the League’s Director of Fan Development & Grassroots Marketing. Currently, Neel is running India’s first Industry designed sports management education program, the Global Institute of Sports Business.

Abhishek Desai, an entrepreneur and ardent cricket enthusiast, is widely recognized as the visionary founder of CricHeroes. Hailing from Gujarat, India, he earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering from Nirma Institute of Technology, Gujarat University. In 2004, Abhishek co-founded Digicorp, a software development company, where he honed his skills in crafting technology products. Fueled by his passion for cricket, he ventured into revolutionizing amateur cricket with the inception of CricHeroes in 2016. Under Abhishek's leadership, CricHeroes has evolved into the world's largest grassroots cricket platform, boasting over 24 million registered users. The platform's cutting-edge features, including live scoring, streaming, and comprehensive league management, have redefined how amateur cricketers engage with the sport. Abhishek's unwavering commitment to user experience has earned CricHeroes acclaim, trusted by over 200 cricket associations globally, solidifying its standing as a trailblazer in grassroots cricket. As the driving force behind CricHeroes, Abhishek Desai continues to inspire and lead a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence, leaving an indelible impact on millions of cricketers worldwide.

Ramkumar Subramanian is renowned for his work in sport and sports architecture and has developed and designed high profile projects on a global scale. As a Director at Collage Design Pvt Ltd, he is at the forefront of multiple sports infrastructure projects and sporting events across the country. What sets Ram apart is his profound grasp of technical and operational complexities associated with large-scale sports projects and events. A graduate of the Sir J.J. School of Architecture, Ram believes that exceptional teamwork is central to accomplishing remarkable milestones.

Ramakrishnan Subramanian, widely known as 'Ramky' in sports, is the Founder and CEO of SportsMechanics India Private Limited. With over two decades of expertise, he pioneered sports data analytics in India, notably serving as the inaugural performance analyst for the Indian Cricket Team from 2003 to 2007. Departing from a stable banking career, Ramky fused his passions for sports and technology, introducing video analysis and cricket analytics in 2000. In 2006, he founded SportsMechanics, expanding its influence globally, including active participation in two Olympics. Ramky's impact extends to aiding sports organizations in digital transformation, establishing Centers of Excellence in Sports Analytics, and leveraging AI to deliver unparalleled data-driven experiences. His achievements contribute significantly to the growth of sporting entities, broadcasters, media, and brands globally.

Mr. Karan Mahesh Pathak has total of 10 yrs of experience in esports, operations, sales, marketing, production, manpower out-sourcing, Event Planning & Operations. He has managed events in esports, Retail, Media, FMCG, Radio, Airlines, Television etc. He's currently an Associate Director at Krafton Inc, which provides a platform across the gamut, right from Pro-Players to gaming enthusiasts.

A Media entrepreneur, and co-owner of content company N1 Media that runs the country's best sports video news syndicate - nnis sports. Shireen is proficient in the generation of sports content. Her expertise also lies in adapting technology to push sports content on diverse digital platforms. Having spearheaded media projects in geographies like Kuwait and Nigeria, India and US, gives her a wide global media perspective.

Mr. Vinay Mittal, the Managing Director of Deepali Designs, brings over 30 years of extensive industry experience to drive business growth. Proficient in crafting and envisioning strategies aligned with company goals, he collaborates closely with Agency Division Heads to maximize workflows and guide strategic objectives. His leadership in notable events such as The Commonwealth Games, Khelo India University Games, Lusofonia Games,Khelo India Youth Games, UP Global Investors Summit, Krishi Kumbh, Statue Installation of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and others has elevated D-Sports and Deepali Designs to great heights.

Mukul Chowdhari is the CEO of Jamshedpur FC, a football club which was launched in 2017 and participates in the Indian Super League (ISL). He is also the Chief of Sports Excellence Centres at Tata Steel where he looks after the 3 sports residential academies, namely, Tata Football Academy, Tata Archery Academy, and Sports High Performance Centre to groom the athletes of tomorrow as well as support the elite athletes to enhance their performance. He has previously served as the Academy director of Manchester United Football schools in India and the General Manager of Mumbai Football Club (Division of Essel Group).

Business owner by day and esports fanatic by night; Lokesh Suji aka dAwesomeNinja (that's his ingame name), is an esports Evangelist, Hustler and a Telecom Veteran with 18+ yrs of corporate experience with companies like Huawei, Tata Communications, Airtel, Reliance.

He is a known name when it comes to Indian Esports. Over the years been part of esports, and across different formats and categories of games, he found that the vertical in India is unstructured & Unexplored, which needed to be developed along professional lines – much in the same way that other forms of sports are being developed in the country (be it Cricket, Football or now Kabaddi).

His aspiration is to ensure that the category of esports is created and managed in much the same way as it is in countries like the United States, European Union, South Korea and China.

Saurabh is a seasoned professional boasting a robust educational background, including qualifications as a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, and graduate in Law and Commerce. With over 14 years of experience, he has excelled in managing diverse projects, such as Anti-bribery and corruption diligence, whistle-blow reviews, and FCPA due diligence. Holding certifications in Cyber Laws, Forensic Accounting, and Fraud Detection, including being a Certified Fraud Examiner (GFSU), Saurabh is a multifaceted expert.

His commitment extends to being a member of the technical committee on ISO 37001 (Anti-bribery management systems) with the nodal agency of ISO in India. Collaborating with international law firms, Saurabh has played a pivotal role in assisting corporates in formulating and implementing comprehensive compliance frameworks, including code of ethics and conduct, anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies, and conflict of interest guidelines, particularly for companies undergoing listing processes. Moreover, he actively shares his wealth of knowledge by conducting training sessions on forensic audits, investigation techniques, and the use of technology in investigations for various regulatory and enforcement agencies, solidifying his status as a thought leader in financial compliance and investigation.

Spent 15 years in the sports business, industry and media. As a former core team member of Pro Wrestling League from 2015 - 18 and having built and executed Zee Bangla Football League in 2019; hands on understanding of all stakeholders involved in execution and development of sports. Worked with both, the private and state government side, on creating solutions including the dreaded covid times.

For the last 2 years, I have led the business strategy and growth for SportVot - driving tech solutions to simplify and broad base sports streaming, live production; and striving to play our role in building tools to tap into the large sports talent ecosystem of India.

Abhishek Issar, an industry professional with over 18 years of experience in media, entertainment, sports, and finance, specializes in policy. With a background as a Senior banker and industry analyst, he has led initiatives in strategic partnerships and B2G engagements, contributing significantly to India's emerging opportunities. Abhishek is the founder of the Federation of Electronic Sports Associations India (FEAI), focusing on esports policy, and is driving the 'BHARAT IN PARIS' campaign in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. His versatile career includes a stint as a broadcast presenter at the TV Today Group, where he covered sports and politics. In his current role, Abhishek remains dedicated to exploring new developments in key future economies and collaborating with policymakers to leverage India's potential through innovative solutions.

Himika Chaudhuri is a media and communications professional with over 17 years of experience in leading media houses like TOI, HT, CNN IBN and India Today. Originally from Kolkata, she is currently the General Manager, Media and Communication at the National Film Development Corporation of the Ministry of I&B. Prior to this, she was the Head of Media and Communication for the Sports Authority of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Mr. Lokmanyu Chaturvedi is a professional FIFA Esports athlete for the Indian eNational Team and True Rippers Esports. He represented India in FIFA eNations Series 2021 where India finished 22nd in the world on FIFA.GG rankings. He is a part of the 2022 squad presently.