Gandhinagar: Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) is going to host Inter IIT Sports Meets 2023. Ms Bhavina Patel, a Para Table Tennis Champion, Arjuna Awardee, silver medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, and gold medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, unveiled the event’s Mascot “Neelswara” (a nilgai/blue bull, which is a frequently sighted in Gandhinagar) during the Board Meeting of the 37th Inter IIT Aquatics Meet, 56th Inter IIT Sports Meet, and 28th Inter IIT Staff Meet held at IITGN on August 5-6, 2023.
Sharing some inspiring anecdotes from her life experiences, Ms Bhavina Patel highlighted the importance of meditation in all aspects of life and expressed her appreciation for the active promotion and integration of sports in all IITs.
The Inter IIT Aquatics Meet, to be held from October 4 to 9, and the Inter IIT Staff Meet, to be held from December 24 to 19, will be hosted entirely by IITGN, and the Inter IIT Sports Meet, to be held between December 10 and 22, will be jointly hosted at IITGN and IIT Bombay. Over 4000 athletes from all 23 IITs will compete in 13 diverse sports to win the coveted General Championship Trophy.
The Board Meeting was attended by representatives from all 23 IITs. Prof Sivapriya Kirubakaran of IITGN and Prof Avinash Bhardwaj of IIT Bombay, both chairpersons of the Inter-IIT Sports Meet 2023, lighted the ceremonial lamp and Prof Abhijit Mishra, Head of Sports at IITGN and convener of the Meet gave opening remarks.
Furthermore, Prof Rajat Moona, Director of IITGN and Chairperson of the Inter IIT Sports Board, addressed the gathering and said, “We are honoured and excited to host this legacy sports event of IITs, which becomes a melting pot of students from all over the country to celebrate excellence in sports. At IITGN, sports is not just an extra-curricular activity, it is very much part of the entire learning experience for students, and the opportunity to witness this one-of-a-kind annual sports event on our campus will be a memorable experience for the entire IITGN community.”
Prof Abhijit Mishra, Head of Sports at IITGN, said, “We are pleased to host the 2023 editions of the Inter IIT Sports Meets, which has been running since 1961. The sportsmanship and camaraderie seen during this one of the largest and longest-running sporting events in Indian academia is remarkable. We are looking forward to carrying forward the legacy and providing the best sports experience to all the participants.”
The state-of-the-art Sports Complex at IITGN is equipped with several top-notch facilities for various indoor and outdoor sports/activities, including Badminton Courts, Squash Courts, Table Tennis Court, Volleyball Court, Basketball Court, Climbing Wall, Football Ground, Cricket Ground, Athletic Track, an Olympic Size Swimming Pool, Yoga Hall, Gym, and so on. These facilities help students and the community practise and attain professionalism in their respective games while ensuring their fitness and wellness.
