Sports infra improving by leaps and bounds

GS Dhaliwal, Associate Professor and Head of the Physical Education and Sports Department at NIT Jalandhar, has devoted his life to promoting sports. Joining what was then Regional Engineering College (REC) in 1991, Dhaliwal has fostered a sports-oriented environment wherever he has worked. In 1997, he became the first Director of Sports at Punjab Technical University (PTU) Jalandhar. In an interview with Aakanksha N Bhardwaj, Dhaliwal shares his journey and dedication to the world of sports.

Tell us about your own sports journey. How did you start?

I got sports in my ‘gudti’ as my paternal uncle was also a very good sports person. I started playing at a very young age in school and then joined DAV College, where I played 800m and 400m hurdles. After completing my graduation and post-graduation, I joined REC (now NIT) Jalandhar in 1991.

n How did you start sports activities at the erstwhile REC, Jalandhar?

It was a great challenge for me to start sports activities with no infrastructure, as wild grass was spread all over the uneven area earmarked for the playground. However, within a couple of years, I managed to develop ten playgrounds and a 400-m standard athletics track. Student sports activities began with the first-ever Athletics Meet and we formed teams in major sports. We had a sports quota in admissions, which helped us recruit many national-level players who represented REC Jalandhar in inter-college and inter-university tournaments, excelling in football, basketball, cricket, badminton, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, athletics, and swimming.

How long was your tenure at PTU and how did you begin the sports activities of the newly established university?

I spent six years at PTU as the Director of Sports on deputation before re-joining NIT Jalandhar in 2003. Initiating sports activities at a newly formed university was quite a daunting task. During this period, I regularly organised meetings with all affiliated colleges to coordinate inter-college and inter-university tournaments. In a short span of time, PTU made a name for itself nationally in the field of sports. We also developed the first-ever sports calendar for institutions affiliated with PTU, Jalandhar.

When you went back to NIT (your parent institute), what steps were taken to improve sports facilities?

My focus was to continue improving our sports infrastructure by developing existing playgrounds and creating new ones by expanding the playing areas. We managed to create basketball and badminton courts in hostels as well. To promote fitness, we set up a national-level indoor gym with state-of-the-art equipment. Additionally, we developed outdoor gyms at various locations around the campus and in each boys' and girls' hostel. The sports department extended indoor games like chess, table tennis, and carom to hostellers. On re-joining, we followed the pattern set by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in coordination with sports professionals from other NITs. This led to the creation of All India Inter-NITs Tournaments, which are now popular and successful in all NITs.

Can you talk about the recent improvements in sports infrastructure at NIT Jalandhar?

In recent years, the development of sports infrastructure at NIT Jalandhar has accelerated thanks to the efforts of our Director, Professor Binod Kumar Kanaujia, who has shown a keen interest in student sports activities. The lawn tennis and basketball courts have been converted into synthetic courts. We now have four indoor badminton courts. All playing areas are illuminated with modern floodlights, allowing players to practice even at odd hours. Additionally, new playgrounds have been created in the last couple of years.

Do you have any specific plans for upcoming tournaments?

Building on our excellent infrastructure, NIT Jalandhar recently hosted the All India Inter-NIT Basketball and Table Tennis Tournament (Men & Women) 2025, with 80 teams from NITs across the country participating. The Director of the Institute plans to host similar tournaments in the near future. We will also hire professional coaches and a gym trainer to prepare our teams for better results in upcoming tournaments. I’m pleased to inform you that, thanks to the efforts of our Director, a standard swimming pool will soon be developed on our campus.