'NSU campus likely to be ready in 6 months'
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, January 16 2026: The construction of the new campus of National Sports University (NSU) Manipur at Koutruk is likely to be completed in six months.

The University will be fully functional at the Koutruk campus in the coming year without fail, said Hari Ranjan Rao, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

He was speaking at the 8th foundation day of NSU held today at NSU, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal, organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Youths Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

Notable dignitaries present include Dr Shobit Jain, IRS, Joint Secretary (Policy), Department of Sports, Ministry of Youths Affairs and Sports; N Kunjarani Devi, Padma Shri and Khel Ratna Awardee and Olympian and Dr Shy am Sundar Rath, Vice-Chancellor, NSU, Imphal.

Speaking as the chief guest, Hari Rao Ranjan described 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.

While the population of the country is over 1.4 billion, India has not succeeded in securing more than 6/7 medals at the Olympics.

Thus, he stressed on the urgent need to integrate sports at the grassroot and school levels, stating that India has not yet realised its full potential.

Highlighting a major gap in India's sports ecosystem, the chief guest also 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.

Commending Manipur's strong sporting culture across all age groups, the chief guest 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 his presidential speech, Dr Shyam Sundar Rath said that 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 also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Government of Manipur, faculty, and staff.

Main highlights of the celebration include release of NSU newsletter, honouring Olympians and Arjuna Awardees, felicitation of eminent sports persons and sports scientists, felicitation of outstanding sports persons, managers and coaches and academic achievers of NSU .

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