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Global sportswear brand Puma is placing big bets on India as the country embraces fitness and sport beyond cricket. The company is backing running as one of its key growth drivers, with investments ranging from races to grassroots training initiatives.
“What we see in India is that the country is becoming a lot more sport-focused and sport-conscious, which is great. This is exactly what we’re betting on for us to help India become a sporting nation,” said Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director of Puma India, in an interview with CNBC-TV18.
Running is emerging as a major focus area for the company. Balagopalan said Puma is investing in both product offerings and events. “From a macro perspective, we believe running is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. We are supporting it and investing heavily in it—not only from a product assortment point of view but also in terms of the races we support across the country and everything we are doing for runners, from entry-level to elite.”
Puma currently supports several marquee events including the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, half marathons in Mumbai and Bangalore, and the Ladakh Marathon. Alongside these, the company also hosts weekly city runs and partners with top running coaches to engage with enthusiasts nationwide.
While Balagopalan did not disclose specific growth projections, he stressed that India remains a crucial market. “India is one of the fastest-growing markets for us, and we are extremely bullish on the market as well as on Puma in India,” he said.
On the supply chain side, Puma has adopted a balanced sourcing strategy, with early investments in local sourcing to strengthen business continuity and position itself for future trade opportunities.
The company also continues to expand its footprint across the country. Its sales are evenly split between online and offline channels, which Balagopalan said allows Puma to stay agile in India’s digital-first retail environment.
“What we see in India is that the country is becoming a lot more sport-focused and sport-conscious, which is great. This is exactly what we’re betting on for us to help India become a sporting nation,” said Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director of Puma India, in an interview with CNBC-TV18.
Running is emerging as a major focus area for the company. Balagopalan said Puma is investing in both product offerings and events. “From a macro perspective, we believe running is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. We are supporting it and investing heavily in it—not only from a product assortment point of view but also in terms of the races we support across the country and everything we are doing for runners, from entry-level to elite.”
Puma currently supports several marquee events including the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, half marathons in Mumbai and Bangalore, and the Ladakh Marathon. Alongside these, the company also hosts weekly city runs and partners with top running coaches to engage with enthusiasts nationwide.
While Balagopalan did not disclose specific growth projections, he stressed that India remains a crucial market. “India is one of the fastest-growing markets for us, and we are extremely bullish on the market as well as on Puma in India,” he said.
On the supply chain side, Puma has adopted a balanced sourcing strategy, with early investments in local sourcing to strengthen business continuity and position itself for future trade opportunities.
The company also continues to expand its footprint across the country. Its sales are evenly split between online and offline channels, which Balagopalan said allows Puma to stay agile in India’s digital-first retail environment.
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