Key Points:
- CM Kejriwal announced that Olympic medallist Karnam Malleshwari is appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Sports University.
- Deputy Manish Sisodia said, “Our purpose to establish the Delhi Sports University is to build and create athletes in our country who will make our nation proud.”
- Malleshwari said her idea of the university is to seek out young talent from schools.
The world celebrated International Olympics Day on June 23rd by congratulating Olympians and sharing the history whereas, on the other hand, the Delhi Government uplifted the celebrations by appointing a former Olympics Medalist as the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Sports University.
Retired weightlifter Karnam Malleswari — the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Olympics — has been appointed by the Delhi State Government as the first vice-chancellor of the Delhi government’s Delhi Sports University.
After Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, deputy Manish Sisodia and Karnam Malleswari had a meet on Wednesday, the announcement of her being elected as the Vice-Chancellor of the Delhi Sports University was out.
“Our dream of launching Delhi Sports University is coming true. It gives me great pride that Olympic medallist Karnam Malleshwari will be first Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Sports University. We discussed the vision of Delhi Sports University today,” announced CM Arvind Kejriwal on social media on Wednesday.
About Malleswari:
- First Indian woman Weightlifter win a medal at the Olympics
- Lifted 110 kilogram and 130 kilogram in the ‘snatch’ and ‘clean and jerk’ categories
- Won Bronze at Sydney Olympics 2000
Awards
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
- Arjuna Award
- Padma Shri
Talking about the Delhi Sports University’s new VC, deputy Manish Sisodia said, “Our purpose to establish the Delhi Sports University is to build and create athletes in our country who will make our nation proud.”
Adding in, Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister of the state said that the state will emphasize on “providing a space for individuals to build their athletic talent”, with the goal of nurturing at least “50 Olympians”.
“We should start visiting schools once they reopen and conduct a talent hunt for students interested in sports. There are many children who take keen interest in sports, but due to lack of any infrastructure they 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 coaches to begin sifting through our students to identify their athletic acumen. We will use the approach of going to schools, to children and players who are keen to strengthen their athletic acumen,” Karnam said.
The order to set up the university was passed in October 2019 and CM Kejriwal said that the university will offer field-specific degrees to interested students.
Sisodia said the degree from the university will be equivalent to degrees in mainstream courses.
