Ideas of India 2025: Champions’ Playbook – Sports, Success & Life After the Game

In this engaging session at Ideas of India 2025, sporting legends Prakash Padukone, Viswanathan Anand, Geet Sethi, and Leander Paes share their insights on India's evolving sports landscape. Moderated by Chetan Bhagat and Shashi Tharoor, the discussion explores India's unique, improvisational approach to success compared to China’s centralized planning.From grassroots development to the role of federations, the speakers emphasize the need for flexibility, inclusivity, and spontaneous initiatives in Indian sports. They highlight how India's top athletes have thrived outside rigid structures, shaping their own paths to greatness.The conversation also turns deeply personal as the champions reflect on the emotional and psychological aspects of retirement. What happens when the glory fades? How does an athlete transition from an all-consuming passion to a new chapter in life? Their candid revelations about the highs and lows of post-sporting careers offer invaluable lessons in resilience and reinvention.With anecdotes, humor, and profound reflections, this session sheds light on what it truly takes to sustain excellence, both on and off the field. Whether you're a sports enthusiast or someone chasing success in any field, this discussion is packed with wisdom and inspiration