Bhubaneswar: Dutee Chand, a student of KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, will lead the Indian contingent at the 30th World University Games 2019 scheduled to kick-off in Napoli, Italy from July 3. She has also been named India’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony as the top achiever of the entire Indian contingent, informed Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS at a press meet in Bhubaneswar on 29th June. Dutee, a double silver medallist at the 2018 Asian Games, is the only girl from Odisha representing India at the World University Games. This is a matter of pride for Odisha and KIIT, he said.
Dr. Gaganendu Dash, Director Sports, KIIT has been appointed as Deputy Head of Delegation of the Indian Universities Team by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Similarly, Rudrakesh Jena, Asst. Director Sports, KISS will be the Delegation Official and Sanjay Garnaik, Chief Coach, Athletics, KIIT will be the Team Leader of Athletics (M/W) team. The selection trial of the Athletics (M/W) and Archery (M/W) teams were organized by KIIT Deemed to be University from April 2 – 5, 2019. Subsequently, coaching camp for both the group was conducted at KIIT from June 22 – 29, 2019, which was attended by 51 players and 10 officials.
“Besides quality education, KIIT & KISS have been according a high importance to sports and games since their inception. The two institutions have created world-class sports infrastructure and have produced more than 5000 sports talents in over 30 disciplines, who have participated at international, national and regional level. It is a rare achievement to produce so many sports talents at a single place. Our students have been representing India and Odisha regularly at international and national level sports meets, including Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games”, he informed.
In a recent achievement, Indian Women’s Rugby Team scripted history by clinching their first-ever international 15-s victory against top ranked Singapore and winning Bronze Medal at the Asia Women’s Div-1 Rugby 15-s Championship held in Manila, Philippines from June 17-23, 2019. Five students of KISS – Sumitra Nayak, Hupi Majhi, Rajani Sabar, Meerarani Hembram and Parbati Kisku – were the part of the Indian team, he informed. In fact, it was a penalty by KISS’s Sumitra Nayak in the dying minutes of the match that sealed the narrow victory for India. Indian Women Rugby team, including Sumitra, have got praise from various spheres for this victory.
Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar are well-known across India and globe. KISS is known to all as the world’s largest tribal residential institution providing accommodation, food, healthcare, and education from KG to PG, vocational training and all other basic amenities of life absolutely free to 50,000 tribal children (30,000 existing student and 20,000 alumni). KISS has become the first University exclusively for tribal students in India and in the entire world. Similarly, KIIT is one of the most promising institutions for technical and professional education in India, attracting students from about 50 countries. Among others Dr. Gaganendu Dash, Sprinter and KIIT Student Dutee Chand, Shooter and KIIT Student Shriyanka Sadangi, Rugby Girls of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Sumitra Nayak, Hupi Majhi, Rajani Sabar, Meerarani Hembram and Parbati Kisku were also present on the occasion.
