THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, May 2: Jharkhand is poised to make a significant leap in sports development with the announcement of its first State Sports University. The initiative will be driven jointly by the Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society (JSSPS) and Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and aimed at nurturing young talent and promoting a structured sporting ecosystem.
During the 11th meeting of the Governing Council of JSSPS held on Friday, Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari officially directed officials to commence groundwork for establishing the university. Drawing on her recent visit to Barcelona, where she reviewed international best practices in youth training and sports infrastructure, Tiwari underscored the need for early talent identification and global-level preparation.
“Our goal is not just to train players, but to develop champions. With a structured academic-sports approach, we can elevate Jharkhand’s presence on the national and international stage,” she said.
Learning from Other Models: Rajgir and Beyond
The Chief Secretary directed forming a committee to study existing sports universities, especially the one in Rajgir, Bihar, and adapt best practices to meet Jharkhand’s specific needs. Emphasising the efficient use of existing infrastructure — including four indoor and six outdoor stadiums spread over 200 acres at the Sports Village in Khel Gaon — she called for innovative ideas to optimise talent development.
Sports-Focused School in the Pipeline for Young Athletes
In a move aimed at long-term talent development, a government Plus-2 school will be established within the Sports Village to ensure holistic education for children enrolled in the academy. Inspired by training models in countries like Spain, where children as young as four begin structured sports education, Tiwari suggested enrolling children aged 4–5 into academies.
The School Education Secretary has been directed to initiate the process. The infrastructure already exists — only teaching staff needs to be deputed.
Nurturing Champions: The Academy’s Growing Impact
Since its inception in 2016, the sports academy — established through a 30-year MoU between JSSPS and CCL — has made significant strides. Although it has the capacity to train 1,400 athletes, currently only 220 children (92 boys and 128 girls) are enrolled.
Training is being provided in 11 sports, with four more disciplines soon to be added. A total of 1,628 young athletes trained here have already made their mark, winning:
- 4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 6 Bronze at International Competitions
- 74 Gold, 70 Silver, and 118 Bronze at National Competitions
- 763 Gold, 352 Silver, and 227 Bronze at State Level
To further elevate performance, Tiwari stressed the urgent need to scale up both athlete intake and staffing.
Solar Energy Push: Greening the Sports Village
CCL proposed the installation of a 5 MW solar power system at the Sports Village to reduce electricity costs and fund further sports development. The project will be financed through CCL’s CSR budget. Meanwhile, the 15-year-old infrastructure is due for major renovation, a matter the Chief Secretary asked departments to prioritise.
Attendees and the Way Forward
The meeting was attended by several key officials, including Vandana Dadel (Principal Secretary, Home Department), Manoj Kumar (Secretary, Sports Department), Umashankar Singh (School Education Secretary), and Nilendu Kumar Singh (CMD, CCL), alongside academy stakeholders.
With this visionary roadmap, Jharkhand is set to become a national hub for sports education and excellence — a fitting tribute to its rich legacy of raw athletic talent and untapped potential.
