“It is often said that nations progress when their sports progress. With this belief, RSN Sports has brought KELME to India not merely to introduce an international brand, but to contribute to the country’s growing sports ecosystem.” Ranjit Singh, Director, KELME India
“Sport today extends beyond the field of play. India’s sports ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with an increase in the number of athletes training seriously at the grassroots level. As participation grows, there is a clear need for performance gear designed specifically for competitive play. Our focus is to support that ecosystem by bringing technically advanced sports products to athletes, academies, and institutions across the country.” Anurag Singh, CEO, KELME India
“We realized there is a significant gap in India’s sports market. While many brands focus heavily on lifestyle and athleisure segments, serious athletes struggle to find performance-grade gear designed for competitive play. KELME’s focus has always been on engineering sports products for match intensity, and we believe Indian athletes deserve access to the same level of performance equipment.” Shiv Kumar Sharma, Director, KELME India
Global performance brand KELME has entered the Indian market with the launch of its first experiential store in Noida and a national ecommerce platform, aiming to serve the country’s growing community of competitive and grassroots athletes.
Brought to India by RSN Sports, the entry aims to address what the company describes as a critical gap in India’s sports ecosystem- the limited availability of competition-grade performance gear for serious athletes at the grassroots level.
Alongside the market launch, KELME India announced Project 1000, a three-year initiative aimed at identifying and supporting 1,000 emerging athletes nationwide through professional-grade gear, mentorship, and structured development pathways.
Through Project 1000, KELME aims to help build India’s next generation of Olympic-level athletes.
The initiative will collaborate with sports academies, clubs, and coaches nationwide to identify promising young talent and provide them with the necessary resources to bridge the gap between grassroots training and professional sporting ecosystems. Select athletes may also gain exposure to KELME’s international training environments and product development facilities.
Ranjit Singh, Director, KELME India, said, “It is often said that nations progress when their sports progress. With this belief, RSN Sports has brought KELME to India not merely to introduce an international brand, but to contribute to the country’s growing sports ecosystem.”
India’s activewear and performance gear market is expanding rapidly, driven by rising fitness awareness and increasing participation in organized sports. Industry estimates place the market at $11 to $15 billion in 2024, accounting for roughly 3.7% of the global activewear market, and project it to reach nearly $30 billion (₹2.5 to 2.7 lakh crore) by 2030, growing at a CAGR of over 12%.
At the same time, grassroots sports participation across football, badminton, basketball, and other disciplines is steadily increasing, creating greater demand for competition-grade performance sports equipment.
Speaking on the launch, Anurag Singh, CEO, KELME India, said, “Sport today extends beyond the field of play. India’s sports ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with an increase in the number of athletes training seriously at the grassroots level. As participation grows, there is a clear need for performance gear designed specifically for competitive play. Our focus is to support that ecosystem by bringing technically advanced sports products to athletes, academies, and institutions across the country.”
He further added, “Alongside our high-performance sports gear, we are also introducing a performance activewear range inspired by the athlete that exists in all of us, encouraging a stronger culture of active living.”
With over 63 years of product development heritage, KELME has built its reputation around engineering-led performance gear used across professional leagues and sports institutions worldwide.
The India launch introduces more than 150 performance products across football, futsal, basketball, badminton, and other indoor and outdoor sports. The portfolio includes lightweight performance fabrics, advanced moisture-management technology, and footwear engineered for multi-surface traction and biomechanical stability during high-intensity play.
During the press conference, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Director, KELME India, highlighted, “We realized there is a significant gap in India’s sports market. While many brands focus heavily on lifestyle and athleisure segments, serious athletes struggle to find performance-grade gear designed for competitive play. KELME’s focus has always been on engineering sports products for match intensity, and we believe Indian athletes deserve access to the same level of performance equipment.”
“To strengthen the brand’s on-ground presence across India, we plan to establish a network of 70 Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs) over the next three years in partnership with local franchise operators,” he added.
As India’s sporting landscape expands beyond cricket and grassroots participation accelerates across multiple disciplines, the demand for competition-grade performance gear is expected to grow significantly. Through its products and initiatives such as Project 1000, KELME aims to establish itself as a long-term performance partner for athletes, academies, and sports institutions across India.
