EBG Group, an Indian conglomerate, has formed an exclusive partnership with Australia’s Universal Fitness Group to develop a network of integrated health, fitness, rehabilitation, and wellness facilities across India. The collaboration entails a planned investment of ₹300 crore over the next five years, aiming to establish over 30 premium Health and Fitness Sanctuaries and two destination wellness retreats.
The initiative seeks to capitalize on India’s expanding fitness market, projected to grow from an estimated ₹16,200 crore currently to ₹37,700 crore by 2030, according to a Deloitte India and Health & Fitness Association India report. Despite this growth, market penetration is forecast to remain low at 1.7% by 2030, indicating a significant unaddressed consumer base.
Strategic Expansion and Comprehensive Offerings
Under the terms of the partnership, EBG Group will manage the development, rollout, and operational aspects of Universal Fitness facilities throughout India. The initial phase of expansion will target Hyderabad and Bengaluru, with subsequent plans for Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, and other urban centers.
Each facility is designed to span between 40,000 and 45,000 square feet, significantly larger than conventional gyms. These integrated wellness campuses will feature zones for advanced fitness training, group studios, Pilates programs, swim schools, physiotherapy, sports rehabilitation, and AI-enabled body composition analysis. The offerings will also include extensive recovery infrastructure, such as magnesium mineral pools, infrared salt rooms, and cold-plunge therapy. Select locations are expected to operate 24 hours, pending regulatory approvals. Technogym will supply equipment and digital wellness ecosystems across all sites.
Dr. Irfan Khan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of EBG Group, stated that the partnership reflects a belief in wellness infrastructure as a defining growth sector for the coming decade. He noted that Indian consumers are increasingly seeking holistic solutions that combine fitness, recovery, preventive health, and lifestyle experiences, moving beyond traditional gym memberships.
Kumar Ramachandra, Founder of Universal Fitness Group Australia, emphasized that the current infrastructure in India has not kept pace with consumer demand for integrated health services. “We were seeing people who understood exactly what their bodies needed – structured recovery, continuity between fitness and rehabilitation, long-term preventive care – and yet had no single destination that could deliver all of it. That is not a gap at the margins,” Ramachandra said.
Anthony Kerkmez, Co-Founder of Universal Fitness Group Australia, highlighted the ambition to establish a new standard for integrated wellness in India, with facilities designed around a member’s full health journey rather than single services. For more details on the company’s approach, visit the Universal Fitness Group website (https://www.universalfitnessgroup.com.au/).
Addressing Market Demand and Employment Opportunities
The partnership aims to consolidate diverse wellness services—fitness, rehabilitation, recovery, and preventive health—into a single, membership-led ecosystem. This model is designed to offer greater effectiveness and value to consumers by integrating previously disparate services. This trend aligns with broader industry developments (https://technosports.co.in/) reflecting increased awareness of preventive healthcare and a younger urban population prioritizing longevity and recovery.
The expansion is also anticipated to create substantial employment opportunities. Each center is projected to hire between 50 and 60 professionals directly across various fields, including fitness coaching, sports science, physiotherapy, wellness operations, hospitality, and technology support, contributing to thousands of new jobs as the network expands nationwide.
EBG Group and Universal Fitness are finalizing site selections, operational frameworks, and launch timelines for their initial flagship locations. The partners aim to establish one of India’s largest premium wellness infrastructure platforms through this venture.
