The Delhi government named Karnam Malleshwari, India’s first woman Olympic medalist, as the first vice-chancellor of Delhi Sports University on International Olympic Day 2021. Malleshwari was greeted by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia.
Taking the moment to Twitter, Kejriwal said, “Our dream of launching Delhi Sports University is coming true. It gives me great pride that Olympic medallist Karnam Malleshwari will be the first Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Sports University.”
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also welcomed the Olympic winner on Twitter. “It is my greatest pleasure to announce the appointment of the first Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Sports University, Olympic medallist Karnam Malleshwari. Our purpose to establish the Delhi Sports University is to build and create athletes in our country who will make our nation proud. We want to create an atmosphere where sports flourishes and bring our players to a level where they bring at least 50 medals each year so that we can finally host Olympic 2048 in the nation,” he tweeted.
Sharing her vision as VC of Delhi Sports University, the Olympic medalist said, “We should start visiting schools once they reopen and conduct a talent hunt for students interested in sports. Many children take a keen interest in sports but due to lack of any infrastructure, are unable to pursue their athletic dream. We will identify students, and match their athletic skills to the sports they are apt for. We can use our existing infrastructure and our coaches to begin sifting through our students to identify their athletic acumen.”
The Delhi Assembly had in 2019 passed a bill to set up a Delhi Sports University (DSU), which will offer graduation, post-graduation and doctorate degrees in cricket, football, and hockey among other sports. The Sports University will streamline sports facilities and bring the sports talents under their ambit to prepare them for world-class competitions.
