Sports and fitness have become an essential part of everyday life. From booking a turf for a football game after work to joining weekend badminton sessions, people are more active than ever. While playing sports keeps us healthy and energised, it also comes with an unavoidable reality – the risk of injury. This risk is growing alongside India’s rapidly expanding sports and fitness ecosystem. As highlighted by Deloitte India and the Health & Fitness Association (HFA), the country already has over 46,500 fitness centres, a number projected to reach 65,500 by 2030, meaning increased participation and, inevitably, a higher likelihood of sports-related injuries.
A sudden fall, an awkward landing, or an unexpected collision can lead to injuries that require medical attention. Unfortunately, this is where many players realise they are unprepared. Regular health insurance doesn’t always cover sports-related injuries in full, and the resulting medical expenses can be stressful. This is exactly why sports insurance is becoming increasingly relevant for everyday players.
What is Sports Insurance?
Sports insurance is a specialised policy designed to provide financial protection against injuries sustained while playing sports or participating in physical activities. Unlike general health insurance, which primarily focuses on illnesses and planned hospitalisation, sports insurance specifically addresses accidental injuries that occur during play, such as falls, collisions, sudden impact, or overexertion on the field or court.
What makes sports insurance important is its activity-specific coverage. The protection applies only when an injury occurs during a sports session, making it highly relevant to regular players. It typically covers accidental injuries like ligament tears, fractures, dental injuries, and hospitalisation-related expenses, areas where standard health insurance policies may have exclusions, sub-limits, or unclear coverage terms.
Sports insurance is not limited to professional athletes. Recreational players and amateur sports enthusiasts often face a higher risk of injury due to irregular play, limited supervision, or a lack of structured recovery. By covering medical costs arising from sports-related injuries, sports insurance allows players to focus on recovery without the added stress of unexpected financial burdens.
Why Sports Insurance Matters?
Many people assume sports injuries are rare or limited to professionals, but the reality is very different. A study by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH) that tracked 498 amateur and professional athletes aged 14–21 found that about 40.4% sustained at least one sports-related injury within a year, highlighting how common injuries are among younger, largely recreational players. Even casual games can lead to serious injuries such as ligament tears, fractures, or dental trauma. A single football tackle or an awkward fall on a badminton court can result in hospitalisation and weeks of recovery.
The bigger concern is that health insurance policies often have exclusions or limitations for sports injuries, covering only certain activities or imposing sub-limits and waiting periods. This gap can leave players paying significant amounts out of pocket. Sports insurance bridges this gap by offering targeted protection for sports-related injuries, helping players recover without financial stress and continue playing with confidence.
Playo and Its Sports Insurance Partner – Symbo Insurance
Recognising the growing need for injury protection among sports enthusiasts, Playo has partnered with Symbo Insurance, a digital-first insurance platform that specialises in simple, flexible insurance solutions.
This partnership allows Playo users to access sports injury protection directly within the app, without the hassle of paperwork or long-term commitments. The insurance is session-based, meaning players are covered only for the duration of the activity they book on Playo.
By integrating insurance into the booking flow, Playo ensures that safety becomes a seamless part of the sports experience rather than an afterthought.
What Does this Symbo Sports Insurance Cover on Playo?
The sports insurance, powered by Symbo Insurance on the Playo app, is designed to cover the most common injuries players face during sports and fitness activities.
1. Ligament Tear Coverage
Ligament injuries are among the most common sports-related injuries, especially in games involving running, jumping, or sudden direction changes. If a player suffers a ligament tear during a sports activity and requires hospitalisation, the insurance provides coverage of up to ₹25,000, helping manage treatment, diagnostic, and recovery-related medical expenses.
2. Dental Injury Coverage
Accidental dental injuries can occur due to falls, collisions, or direct impact during sports activities. This cover provides financial support for dental injuries sustained while playing, with coverage of up to ₹10,000, ensuring players are not burdened with unexpected dental treatment costs.
3. Fracture Coverage
Fractures may result from slips, missteps, or contact with other players or equipment during sports. Under this benefit, fractures sustained during sports activities are covered up to ₹5,000, offering timely financial assistance for medical consultation, diagnosis, and immediate treatment needs.
4. Daily Cash for Hospitalisation
If a player is hospitalised due to a sports-related injury, the insurance provides a daily cash benefit of ₹1,000 per day for up to five days. This amount can be used to manage non-medical expenses such as food, travel, or temporary income loss during recovery.
5. Death Benefit
In the unfortunate event of death occurring during a sports activity, the insurance provides a ₹1,00,000 payout to the nominee. While difficult to consider, this benefit ensures essential financial support for the player’s family during an unexpected and challenging time.
How does this Sports Insurance work on Playo?
Getting insured for your game when booking on Playo is simple and transparent for everyone involved, not just the person hosting the activity. When booking or joining a sports session on the Playo app, users can add Protection Against Injuries at checkout by selecting the checkbox that says “Buy Fitness Cover @ ₹9.” For just ₹9 per session, each player who opts in is insured for that specific activity.
The coverage is valid only for the booked session, making it both flexible and cost-effective. There are no long-term commitments, no paperwork, and no complex policy documents to manage. In the event of a sports-related injury, the claims process is handled digitally through Symbo Insurance, ensuring quick and hassle-free assistance for all covered participants.
Note: Insurance must be added individually to be eligible for a claim. Both the person hosting the game and those joining a hosted game need to opt in separately.
- For “Pay & Join” games: When you join a paid game on Playo, you’ll see the option to add insurance at the checkout stage. Simply select the insurance option while making the payment. Once added, the cover applies only to that specific game session.
- For free-to-join games (no booking fee): Even for free-to-join games, you have the option to add insurance. After tapping Join Game, the insurance option appears on the confirmation screen. The heart icon indicates the option to add Protection Against Injuries; tap it to opt in. Once selected, complete the payment to get covered for that activity.
Conclusion
Sports are meant to be fun, energising, and stress-relieving, not financially stressful. While injuries cannot always be avoided, being prepared makes all the difference.
With sports insurance powered by Symbo Insurance on Playo, players get simple, affordable, and effective injury protection exactly when they need it. The next time you book a game on Playo, adding injury protection is a small step that can make a big difference.
Download Playo on Android or iOS, or visit playo.co to start playing!
Frequently Asked Questions
Sports insurance is a type of insurance that provides financial protection against injuries sustained while playing sports or participating in physical activities. It covers accidental injuries such as ligament tears, fractures, dental injuries, and hospitalisation-related expenses, helping players manage medical costs that may not be fully covered by regular health insurance.
No, the insurance is session-based. Coverage applies only to the specific game or activity for which the insurance was added during checkout. Players need to opt in separately for each session to remain covered.
This sports insurance covers common sports-related injuries, including ligament tears requiring hospitalisation, fractures caused during play, and accidental dental injuries. It also offers daily cash benefits during hospitalisation and provides a death benefit payout to the nominee in case of an unfortunate incident during a sports activity.
Any individual booking or joining a sports activity on the Playo app can opt for sports insurance. Each player must add the insurance separately during checkout to be eligible for coverage and claims.
The sports insurance on Playo costs just ₹9 per session. The coverage is valid only for the specific game or activity booked, making it a flexible and affordable option for regular and occasional players.
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