Bhubaneswar, July 25: A new trend has emerged in the field of sports equipment. High-end gear has flooded Indian markets and despite being expensive, become the products of choice for sportspersons - both amateur and professional.
Youngsters in Bhubaneswar, too, are no longer averse to buying high-end equipment and the stores are cashing in on the demand.
"Nowadays, youngsters want quality goods and do not mind spending that extra buck to buy the best on offer," said 36-year-old Pratyush Nanda, a sports equipment seller in Acharya Vihar. He added that city youngsters no longer looked for quality in just cricket bats or balls - the sport of choice for a long time among city residents.
"We have a basketball made by Molten that is priced at Rs 8,400 and people still buy it," Nanda said.
He said youngsters who love sports could understand the difference between a regular basketball and a premium one. "The extra channels and grip make a big difference," he said.
Saheed Nagar resident and member of a local sports club - Yuva - Soumyajit Patnaik, 19, said that of late, Bhubaneswar had witnessed a surge in premium sport equipment shops that sold quality products.
A sports shop on the outskirts of the city - the largest in the state - has as many as 50,000 different types of sports goods on offer. Rakesh Kumar, 25, an employee of the shop, which is an international chain, said youngsters wanted to try out new games - both indoor and outdoor.
"The sports goods business in the city has become vibrant. Sellers want to offer as many varieties as possible because the buyers' choices have also expanded," he said.
The shop offers after-sales service and Rakesh feels that this aspect was important to retain customers, who, after spending a small fortune on a treadmill or home gym equipment wanted their machines in pristine condition despite heavy use. The shop also offers a cycling track - a first for the state - and lets customers try out the bicycle before they buy it.
"It is easier to convince a customer about the difference between a regular bike and a premium one if they try it out," said Rakesh.
Ajay Kumar Nanda, 30, proprietor of a bicycle shop at Saheed Nagar, said youngsters' perception of cycling had changed over the past two years.
"Earlier, Bhubaneswar residents did not have a range of choices when buying bicycles, but now, the range of options has increased. We offer high-end bicycles and even have customers who have bought bicycles worth Rs 2,50,000," he said.
Although the shop sells an average of two-three bicycles a day, youngsters nowadays look at cycling in a different way, he said.
Prashant Mohanty, 49, the proprietor of a sports goods shop at Ashok Nagar said the sale of treadmills had increased in the city.
"People buy quality treadmills after checking details such as the weight it can bear and horse power. Customers do not mind shelling out extra bucks for quality products," he said. Customers are also showing an interest in premium home gyms.
"This is a new trend. People who like to work out from the comfort of their homes no longer hesitate to buy home gyms. It is ideal for ladies and senior citizens who may not be comfortable going to a gym," Mohanty said.
