Indian Sports Law Forum – The New Era of Indian Sports Governance

LSE Law School in collaboration with the GNLU Centre for Sports and Entertainment Law

Thursday 22 October 2026, 1:30pm - 3:30pm BST

Remote attendance: To attend the event remotely, please click the “Register Here – Online Participation” button at the top of the page.

LSE Law School and the GNLU Centre for Sports and Entertainment Law (GCSEL) at Gujarat National Law University are pleased to launch the Indian Sports Law Forum: Governance, Regulation & Reform with a panel discussion on The New Era of Indian Sports Governance.

Indian sport is going through a period of structural change. The enactment of the National Sports Governance Act 2025 has reshaped the legal framework for federations and regulators, while competition law proceedings are raising new questions about commercial rights and the organisation of leagues. At the same time, India’s growing weight as a sports market and its ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games mean that developments in Indian courts, ministries and boardrooms are increasingly of interest well beyond its borders.

This opening panel brings together a government representative, practitioners, an arbitrator and academics to discuss why Indian sports law matters now and where it is heading. Topics include the government’s vision for sports regulation, commercial rights and competition law, the role of courts and dispute resolution in protecting athletes and other participants, and what needs to be in place legally for India to host a successful Olympic Games. The panel will be followed by an audience Q&A.

The event is the first in a series of sessions running through 2027, covering the National Sports Governance Act, doping and age fraud, gender and representation, and technology and regulation in Indian sport.

Speaker: Professor Mark James (Manchester Metropolitan University)

Speaker: Mr Nandan Kamath (LawNK Partners)

Speaker: Dr Niyati Pandey (GNLU Centre for Sports and Entertainment Law)

Speaker: Mr Kunal (Department of Sports, Government of India)

Speaker: Ms Namrata Chatterjee (Court of Arbitration for Sport)

Chair: Dr Jan Zglinski (LSE Law School)

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