KELME debuts in India with first Experiential Store in Noida

Global Sports brand KELME has marked its entry into the Indian market with the launch of its first experiential store in Noida alongside a nationwide online platform, enhancing access to its performance sports gear for athletes across the country.The brand, introduced by RSN Sports, aims to bridge the gap in access to high-quality, competition-grade gear for both serious and grassroots athletes in India.

In parallel, KELME India has launched Project 1000, a three-year initiative designed to support 1,000 young athletes with professional gear, expert mentorship, and structured training. The programme will collaborate with academies and coaches nationwide to identify emerging talent, while also offering select athletes opportunities for international training and exposure.

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 witnessing strong growth, fuelled by increasing fitness awareness and rising participation in organised sports. Industry estimates value the market between USD 11 billion and USD 15 billion in 2024.

Meanwhile, grassroots participation across football, badminton, basketball and other sports is steadily rising, driving increased demand for competition-grade performance 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 expertise, KELME has established a reputation for engineering-driven performance gear used by professional leagues and sports institutions globally. Its India launch brings a portfolio of over 150 products spanning football, futsal, basketball, badminton and other indoor and outdoor sports. The range features lightweight performance fabrics, advanced moisture-management technologies and footwear designed for multi-surface traction and enhanced biomechanical stability during high-intensity play.

During the press conference, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Director, KELME India, highlighted, “We realised 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.