Archive · 31 Jan 2026
Kuckreja Sports Celebrates 128 Years of Evolution in Indian Sports
Kuckreja Sports is a very old sports equipment store in Pune, India.
It was started by Thakurdas Madan in 1898 and is now run by his grandson, Vivek Madan.
The store has seen many changes over the years, from selling wooden cricket bats and leather footballs to modern equipment made with synthetic materials and carbon fibre.
Initially, the store catered to the elite, including British officials and Indian maharajas.
After India's independence, the store expanded to other cities and even started a parallel venture called Champion Sports.
The store has always focused on providing quality equipment at good prices, which has helped it stay popular even with the rise of online shopping.
Today, Kuckreja Sports is a beloved part of Pune's sports culture, reflecting the city's growing interest in sports among both boys and girls.
Kuckreja Sports was established in 1898 by Thakurdas Madan and is now run by his grandson, Vivek Madan.
The store initially catered to the elite, including British officials and Indian maharajas, selling equipment for football, cricket, tennis, and badminton.
After India's independence, the store expanded to other cities and started a parallel venture called Champion Sports in 1963.
The store has witnessed and adapted to the evolution of sports equipment, from wooden and leather materials to synthetic and carbon fibre innovations.
Kuckreja Sports has maintained its popularity by focusing on quality and pricing, even in the face of e-commerce competition, and has embraced modern technology for stringing rackets.
- Who
- Kuckreja Sports, founded by Thakurdas Madan and currently owned by Vivek Madan
- What
- A 128-year-old sports equipment store in Pune, India, witnessing and participating in the evolution of sports culture
- When
- Established in 1898, with significant milestones in the 1960s and 1980s
- Where
- Originally in Pune, with branches in Solapur, Nagpur, and Bengaluru
- Why
- To make quality sports equipment accessible and to cater to the changing sports culture in India
- Founded
- 1898
- Founder
- Thakurdas Madan
- Current Owner
- Vivek Madan
- Initial Sports Equipment
- Football, cricket, tennis, badminton
- Notable Customers
- Britishers, Indian maharajas, government officials
- Branches
- Pune (MG Road, Deccan Gymkhana), Solapur, Nagpur, Bengaluru
- Parallel Venture
- Champion Sports (established 1963)
- Key Innovations
- Electronic stringing machines for rackets