#### Inauguration of NIMS University Sports Board Graced by Ashok Kumar Dhyanchand

Jaipur. The inauguration ceremony of the NIMS University Sports Board was a momentous event graced by some of India’s most esteemed international athletes. The event was highlighted by the presence of Ashok Kumar Dhyanchand, Olympian and Arjuna Awardee in Hockey, and Shriram Singh Shekhawat, Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee in Athletics, among many other renowned sports personalities.

Chief Guest Ashok Kumar Dhyanchand lauded the immense potential for building world-class sports infrastructure at NIMS University under the Khelo India Games initiative. He emphasized the university’s promising future in fostering sports excellence. In a significant announcement, Prof. (Dr.) Balveer Singh Tomar, Founder and Chancellor of NIMS University, approved the proposal to establish the Major Dhyanchand Research Fellowship. This fellowship will award ₹25,000 per month to scholars researching the life and contributions of Major Dhyanchand, the legendary hockey wizard.

Prof. Amarika Singh, Advisor to NIMS University, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to promoting sports and supporting athletes. Shriram Singh Shekhawat called for concerted efforts to enhance the foundational sports facilities in preparation for hosting the Khelo India University Games. Vikram Singh Shekhawat expressed confidence in NIMS University's capability to excel in organizing and performing in university-level sports events.

The annual meeting of the Sports Board, presided over by Prof. America Singh, witnessed the release of the 2024-25 inter-college sports competition calendar. This comprehensive calendar includes 25 sports disciplines for both men and women. In a strategic move, NIMS University has proposed to host the North West Zone Football (Men) and West Zone Handball (Women) competitions to the Association of Indian Universities.

The grand inauguration ceremony saw the esteemed participation of Ashok Kumar Dhyanchand, Shriram Singh Shekhawat, Vikram Singh Shekhawat, Gajendra Singh Rathore (Former District Sports Officer, Jaipur), Ramesh Singh (International Roll Ball Player and Maharana Pratap & Guru Vashishta Awardee), and Pushpendra Singh Shaktawat (Vice President, Hockey Udaipur).

During the event, the Registrar of NIMS University presented the proposal for the "Major Dhyanchand Fellowship," which was enthusiastically endorsed. The university's inter-college sports competition calendar for 2024-25 was also unveiled, with allocations made to various constituent colleges. Furthermore, NIMS University announced the inaugural NIMS Invitational Tournament in five sports: basketball, badminton, table tennis, kabaddi, and chess, aiming to foster competitive spirit among universities in Rajasthan.

Dr. Kuldeep Singh Jhala, Secretary of the Sports Board, presented the financial proposals and action plans for representing NIMS University in the upcoming inter-university sports competitions organized by the Association of Indian Universities. The proposals, including hosting the North West Zone Football (Men) and West Zone Handball (Women) competitions, were unanimously approved.

The sports board meeting included notable members such as Ashish Mathur (Director, Training & Placement), Prof. R.P. Singh (Principal, Pharmacy College), Prof. Manoj Srivastava (Principal, Hotel Management), Prof. Deepika Varshney (Humanities & Social Sciences), Prof. Anupama Pandey (Principal, Commerce & Management College), Dr. Sunita Yadav (Assistant Professor, Physical Education), and external members like Dr. Vijay Singh (Head, Physical Education Department, Kota University), and Dr. Jogendra Singh Khangarot (Associate Professor, BN University). Also present were Govind Sharma (Finance Officer, NIMS University), Dr. Anurag Mishra (Associate Professor, NIMS Pharmacy College), and Dr. Harish Kumar (Assistant Professor, NIMS Engineering Faculty).

The grand opening of the NIMS University Sports Board stands as a testament to the institution's dedication to advancing sports and supporting its athletes, setting a new benchmark in university-level sports infrastructure and management.