The university will be the second sports university in India after the National Sports University of Imphal, Manipur
Sports enthusiasts in Bangalore will have to wait longer as land for the Sports University to be constructed in Yelahanka is still being acquired from the revenue department and from private parties.
Mr. S.R. Vishwanath is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Yelahanka. His office said, “We are expecting to get the clearance from the revenue office by the end of this year and we are also in talks with private parties to acquire the rest of the land. We are hoping that construction will start next year.”
The office added that 100 acres of land was allocated for the construction of the university out of which 65 acres is under the revenue department and the remaining 35 acres is with private parties.
Nikhil, a professional mixed martial artist said that a sports university is significant for athletes as it will provide a backup, a support to athletes. He explained, “Because of the lack of sports universities in India most athletes could not have proper sport-based education with their training, most of us either do just training or just studying.”
A Sports University is a necessity today, Mrs. Manjula S. Section Officer Sports Authority of India (SAI), Bengaluru said. Such universities are not only good for athletes but also for people who are sports enthusiasts and see their career in sports without being an athlete. She further said, “The planned university will have the best training facility for athletes, it will provide graduation and post-graduation courses. Not only that it will provide courses in sports nutrition, counselling, and other sports-related courses.”
Kartikay Deshwal, an International Shot Put athlete said that he wanted to pursue graduation in sports-related subjects but the only University currently was in Imphal, Manipur, which does not support distance education. “I then unfortunately had to pursue graduation in political science from Kirori Mal College (KMC), Delhi University (DU) while playing for India at the same time,” he said.
Mrs Manjula added, “The University to be constructed in Yelahanka will be the second Sports University.”
Mr Narendra Singh Rawat, a boxing coach and an expert in sports management said that a state-of-the art sports university is the need of the hour if the vision is to see India among the top countries in medals tally in international games.
He added that it is a very good initiative of Karnataka government to set up a sports university funded by centre. But Rawat further said, “considering Karnataka Athletics Association history, the management is unfortunate as there is no clarity or transparency in how these organizations work.”
The project of the Sports University in Bengaluru was announced by Mr. KC Narayana Gowda,Sports and Youth Empowerment Minister in April 2022. In the same announcement, he also identified 100 acres of land in Yelahanka for the same.
