Sports participation and perceived local economic development: evidence from university-level Kho-Kho players in Karnataka, India

It is a quantitative cross-sectional study to examine the relationship between university level Kho-Kho participation and perceived local economic development in the state of Karnataka, India. Data were collected from 210 male university and college Kho-Kho players using a structured five-point Likertscale questionnaire on sports participation intensity, team cohesion, employment opportunities, local business growth, infrastructure development and perceived local economic development. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression were used. All five explanatory constructs showed positive and statistically significant associations with perceived local economic development. Infrastructure development demonstrated the largest standardized regression coefficient (β = 0.34), followed by sports participation intensity (β = 0.31), employment opportunities (β = 0.28), team cohesion (β = 0.19), and local business growth (β = 0.17). The regression model accounted for 64% of the variance in perceived local economic development (R² = 0.64; adjusted R² ≈ 0.62; model p < 0.001). These findings indicate meaningful associative relationships between sports-related participation and perceived local economic development among the sampled players. Because the study is cross-sectional and relies on self-reported perceptions, the findings should not be interpreted as evidence of causal effects or objective changes in local economic output. The study contributes to discussion of grassroots indigenous sport as a potential component of local social and economic development planning while highlighting the need for longitudinal and objective economic measurement.