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Times of India launches SFI Expo for sports, fitness and infrastructure
New exhibition to bring together stakeholders across India’s growing sports ecosystem in July 2026.
MUMBAI: The Times of India is stepping onto the field with a brand-new playbook this time, not with ink and paper, but with a full-scale exhibition that promises to score big for India’s sports industry. The Times of India has announced its entry into the exhibitions business with the launch of The Times of India Sports, Fitness and Infrastructure (SFI) Expo. Set to be held in July 2026 in New Delhi, the expo aims to create an integrated platform that connects the entire value chain of sports, fitness, technology and infrastructure.
Powered by 187 years of credibility across print, digital and experiential media, TOI is positioning the SFI Expo as a major collaborative hub for sports enterprises, infrastructure companies, government bodies, fitness and wellness firms, athletes, innovators and communities.
The exhibition will cover everything from planning and building world-class sports facilities to enabling advanced training environments and performance solutions, with a strong focus on innovation in training, recovery and technology.
Speaking on the initiative, Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. (The Times of India) president for eesponse & brand capital Surinder Chawla said, “India is entering a dynamic new era. Both traditional and new sports are growing exponentially. Government initiatives such as Khelo India and Fit India are nurturing young athletes and steadily strengthening India’s imprint on the world sporting arena. This exhibition aims to unite stakeholders across the sports value chain and help accelerate India’s journey towards a robust, world-class sporting ecosystem.”
Designed as an annual platform, the TOI SFI Expo will facilitate dialogue, partnerships, knowledge exchange and investment opportunities, supporting the development of a more inclusive and future-ready sporting landscape in India.
From match reports to match-making for the entire sports ecosystem, The Times of India is now extending its legacy of influence from the newsroom straight into the arena. With the SFI Expo, TOI isn’t just covering the game, it’s helping build the stadium, the training tech, and the future of Indian sports.
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India’s employability gap persists despite strong hiring intent
Only 1 in 5 institutions achieve 76 to 100 per cent placements within six months of graduation.
MUMBAI: India’s young workforce is ready in numbers, but the real question is whether they are ready for work and senior leaders from industry, academia and policy gathered in Delhi to find practical answers. A closed-door roundtable hosted by Vaishali Nigam Sinha, co-founder of Renew, brought together key voices to discuss actionable solutions for bridging the persistent employability gap. The session highlighted that while job opportunities are expanding, the alignment between education and industry needs remains a critical challenge.
According to Teamlease EdTech’s Career Outlook Report HY1 2026, 73 per cent of employers plan to hire freshers in the first half of 2026, signalling steady recovery in entry-level hiring. However, employers are shifting focus from mere qualifications to demonstrable capability, placing greater value on internships, live projects and proof-of-work.
Teamlease Edtech, founder and CEO Shantanu Rooj emphasised the need for better alignment, “India’s employability challenge is no longer about access alone, but about alignment between education and work. Employers are increasingly relying on demonstrable capability such as internships, projects, and applied learning as indicators of readiness.”
Vaishali Nigam Sinha stressed the importance of execution over intent, “India has both the talent and the opportunity. What is needed now is alignment. We have to move from intent to execution by embedding employability into the system itself.”
Other prominent speakers included Dr Chenraj Roychand, Chancellor of Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, who called for universities to evolve from degree providers to ecosystem enablers, Prof M. Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIM Calcutta, who highlighted the need for flexibility and multidisciplinary learning, and Dr T.N. Singh, Director of IIT Patna, who advocated deeper industry engagement through research and experiential learning.
The discussion also drew insights from the book Accelerating Impact. Enabling Dreams – Making India Employable by Shantanu Rooj and co-authors, which features contributions from leaders like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan and Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
During the event, Teamlease Edtech Foundation launched Project SEED, a national initiative aimed at bridging the education-employability gap for underserved youth. The project focuses on early intervention at the school level to guide students towards informed career choices and work-integrated pathways.
With only 16.67 per cent (1 in 5) of institutions achieving 76–100 per cent placements within six months of graduation, the conversation made one thing clear, India’s demographic dividend will deliver real value only when education and employability walk hand in hand. The gathering served as a timely reminder that the future of India’s workforce depends not just on creating more jobs, but on preparing young people far better to seize them.
