In a major push to elevate sports culture and nurture budding athletic talent, the Jharkhand government will soon establish a dedicated Sports University. The initiative, to be jointly managed by the Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society (JSSPS) and Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), aims to provide world-class sports training, education, and infrastructure for children and youth across the state.
Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari, who chaired the 11th Governing Council meeting of JSSPS on Friday, directed officials to begin groundwork immediately. She also instructed the formation of a study committee to analyze models of existing sports universities—including Bihar’s Rajgir-based institution—and tailor Jharkhand’s setup according to local needs.
Sports University to Harness 200-Acre Mega Campus
The university will utilize the sprawling 200-acre Sports Village in Ranchi, which already houses four indoor and six outdoor stadiums. Tiwari emphasized making optimal use of this infrastructure to create a pipeline of high-performing athletes.
“We must focus on what more can be done to refine the state’s sports talent and make Jharkhand a hub of sporting excellence,” she said.
Recognizing the need to integrate sports and academics from an early age, Tiwari suggested including children as young as 4–5 years old in the training ecosystem, mirroring global best practices. The council approved the opening of a government-run plus-two school within the Sports Village to support the academic needs of student-athletes.
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“International athletes often begin training in early childhood. We must start early if we want Olympic-level performers,” she noted. The school will leverage existing infrastructure, with only teacher deputation required to begin classes.
JSSPS Sports Academy: A Proven Track Record
Set up in 2015 under a 30-year MoU between JSSPS and CCL, the Sports Academy at Ranchi began training in 2016. It currently supports 220 children (92 boys and 128 girls), although the facility has the capacity to train up to 1,400 students. The academy employs 47 staff members, including coaches and support staff.
The Chief Secretary called for expanding enrollment and accelerating recruitment for four new sports disciplines, which are nearing final approval.
Since 2021–22, the academy has produced 1,628 medal-winning athletes, including:
- International level: 4 Gold, 4 Silver, 6 Bronze
- National level: 74 Gold, 70 Silver, 118 Bronze
- State level: 763 Gold, 352 Silver, 227 Bronze
CCL Proposes 5 MW Solar Power Plant to Cut Energy Costs
In a significant sustainability step, CCL proposed installing a 5-megawatt solar power system at the Sports Village, funded via its CSR initiative. The project aims to reduce electricity bills and channel the savings into improving sports programs and facilities.
Officials also highlighted the need for urgent renovation of the 15-year-old sports infrastructure, to which the Chief Secretary responded with immediate action directives.
High-Level Participation Underscores Project Priority
The meeting saw attendance from top officials, including:
- Home Department Principal Secretary Vandana Dadel
- Sports Secretary Manoj Kumar
- School Education Secretary Umashankar Singh
- CCL CMD Nilendu Kumar Singh
The proposed Sports University and related upgrades position Jharkhand to become a national leader in athlete development and sports education.
