India’s Oil & Gas PSUs Pioneering Role in Nurturing Sporting Culture: Hardeep Singh Puri
PSPB athletes have won 151 national awards as Minister highlights India’s transformation into a sporting nation
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, today underlined the pioneering role of India’s oil and gas Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in nurturing the country’s sporting culture. He was speaking at an event organised by the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) in collaboration with the Delhi Soccer Association and Sudeva Academy to celebrate National Sports Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
The minister noted that India’s sports sector has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the past decade. “After 2014, there has been a concerted effort to make India a ‘sporting nation’. Today, there is deep institutional support for promising youngsters — not just funding, but also ecosystem development including nutrition, sports science, and coaching,” he said.
He also highlighted the passing of the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 in the recent Parliament session, calling it a historic step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in sports governance.
Sharing India’s recent achievements, the Minister said, “The results speak for themselves. India recorded a historic medal haul of 107 medals at the 2023 Asian Games and 29 medals (7 gold, 9 silver, 13 bronze) at the 2024 Para Asian Games.”
Lauding PSPB’s legacy, Puri said, “Among the many stakeholders who have powered this transformation, PSPB stands out as one of the largest sports promotion bodies in the country, with 16 member organisations supporting 19 sporting disciplines.” Over the decades, 151 national awardees have emerged from PSPB, including 3 Padma Bhushan, 13 Padma Shri, 10 Khel Ratna, 1 Dronacharya, 7 Lifetime Achievement Awardees and 117 Arjuna Awardees.
The Minister also highlighted PSPB’s initiatives in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, which he has adopted under the Aspirational Districts Programme. “PSPB has tapped outstanding sporting talent by promoting archery competitions in Sonbhadra. We now plan to host a Sailing event and establish a Water Sports Training Centre in the district — strengthening India’s budding sports ecosystem,” he announced.
Expressing happiness at PSPB’s efforts, Puri said, “I am delighted to be here at this event jointly organised by the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board and Delhi Soccer Association. Such collaborations are essential to build a stronger sporting culture in India.”
