The 8th Foundation Day of the National Sports University (NSU) was celebrated on Friday at NSU, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal. The function was organised under the aegis of Ministry of Youths Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
Hari Ranjan Rao, IAS, Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youths Affairs and Sports (Government of India), Dr. Shobit Jain, IRS, Joint Secretary (Policy), Department of Sports, Ministry of Youths Affairs and Sports (Government of India), N. Kunjarani Devi, Padma Shri and Khel Ratna Awardee, and Olympian and Dr. Shyam Sundar Rath, Vice- Chancellor (O), National Sports University, Imphal graced the function as Chief Guest, Guests of Honour and President respectively.
The Chief Guest, while addressing the gathering, described the National Sports University (NSU), Manipur, as an “eye-opener” and a matter of national pride, being India’s first and only National Sports University established through an Act of Parliament. He said the location of NSU in Manipur aptly reflects the state’s rich sporting culture and its immense contribution to the nation’s sporting achievements.
Expressing satisfaction over the rapid progress of the new campus, Hari Ranjan Rao conveyed confidence that the university would shift to its permanent campus before the next Foundation Day. He underlined that while India has produced notable sports achievers, the country has not yet realised its full potential, stressing the urgent need to integrate sports at the grassroots and school levels.
Highlighting a major gap in India’s sports ecosystem, the Chief Guest pointed out the shortage of qualified coaches, sports scientists, physiotherapists and support staff. In this context, he said NSU has a crucial role to play in nation-building by developing world-class human resources in sports and allied sciences.
While praising the world-class infrastructure being developed at NSU, Hari Ranjan Rao emphasised that institutions achieve excellence through people, not buildings alone. He called for attracting the best global faculty and strengthening international collaborations, with the vision of making NSU one of the world’s top sports universities.
The Chief Guest, commending Manipur’s strong sporting culture across all age groups, said India must learn from the state’s example. He expressed confidence that NSU would emerge as a preferred hub for national coaching camps and high-performance training, supported by sports science and sports psychology.
In the presidential speech, Dr. Shyam Sundar Rath stated that the National Sports University (NSU) marked its 8th Foundation Day, with the President highlighting the institution’s growth into a nationally recognised centre for sports education, research, and athlete-centred learning. Established to integrate sports science, academics, and national development, NSU has strengthened its undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes, with research emerging as a key pillar.
Dr. Shyam Sundar Rath mentioned that the University gives focused attention to disciplines such as sports science, psychology, nutrition, biomechanics, exercise physiology, sports medicine, and coaching, contributing to students’ national and international achievements. Beyond academics, NSU promotes social responsibility through community outreach, internships, and the promotion of Manipur’s traditional sports via an ICMR-supported research initiative.
The President further said that international collaborations and conferences have expanded NSU’s global presence, while workshops on employability, ethics, and mental well-being support holistic student development. Despite operating from a temporary campus, NSU has developed strong academic and research facilities, with the upcoming permanent campus at Koutruk, Imphal West, set to strengthen long-term growth. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Government of Manipur, faculty, and staff, and reaffirmed NSU’s commitment to quality, inclus
