• C. Harshavardhan

Rural communities often face significant challenges in employment and economic growth, but sports can serve as a powerful tool for empowerment and sustainable development. This paper explores how strategic integration of sports programs can create job opportunities, enhance skills, and foster socio-economic transformation in rural areas. By examining successful case studies and innovative models, the study highlights how sports-based initiatives—such as coaching, sports tourism, infrastructure development, and entrepreneurship—can drive long-term impact. The findings suggest that a well-structured "game plan" involving government, NGOs, and local stakeholders can unlock rural potential, improve livelihoods, and promote inclusive growth.

Rural development, sports employment, community empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, sports entrepreneurship, economic transformation, grassroots sports, skill development, rural youth, sports policy.

"A GAME PLAN FOR RURAL PROGRESS: INTEGRATING SPORTS AND EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES FOR LONG-TERM IMPACT", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no.673-676, March-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRGU06129.pdf

"A GAME PLAN FOR RURAL PROGRESS: INTEGRATING SPORTS AND EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES FOR LONG-TERM IMPACT", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no. pp673-676, March-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRGU06129.pdf