Sports science will be the emphasis as a first-of-its-kind Sports University will be launched this November in Imphal.
The proposal by the Sports Minister met with the approval of the Union Cabinet on Thursday.
“It is a venture which should galvanise the way we look at sport in India. Sports talent will be nurtured on a scientific basis,” Sports secretary Injeti Srinivas told The Hindu,
Sports joint-secretary Rajvir Singh said: “It is going to be a platform second to none in terms of infrastructure, teacher-student ratio and faculty.”
The University will comprise four schools — sports science & sports medicine, sports management & sports technology, sports education & coaching and inter-disciplinary studies.
“Sports medicine is a much-neglected area and there is a shortage of expertise on the subject in India. The university will also focus on teaching preventive and rehab science,” said Srinivas.
The course, a four-year degree programme, will include disability and adventure sport.
“The NIS’s was a one-year diploma course, but here it will be specialised learning. Students with a good record in sports and science will be given preference but we are open to Olympic and Asian Games medallists joining the course. Even those who may not have studied science but would have excelled at the international level,” said Rajvir Singh.
Srinivas had worked on this project diligently to introduce India sportsmen to sports science and sports psychology.
“We will be producing experts in sports bio-mechanics. It is an important field in preparing and identifying the champion material. We will affiliate other institutions and pass on the exercise to spur sports technology,” he said.
