Rourkela: A total of 1,198 student-athletes from 30 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and IIEST Shibpur participated in the three-day All India Inter-NIT Sports Meet 2026–27, hosted by NIT Rourkela from October 30 to November 1.
The event featured five sporting categories — men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s handball, and men’s hockey. Matches were conducted at P.T. Usha Stadium, the Indoor Stadium at NIT Rourkela and the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, officials said.
NIT Calicut emerged as one of the leading performers, winning the men’s handball and men’s hockey championships. NIT Jamshedpur clinched the men’s volleyball title, while VNIT Nagpur and NIT Kurukshetra won the women’s handball and women’s volleyball championships, respectively.
In men’s handball, NIT Calicut emerged victorious, with NIT Warangal and SVNIT Surat finishing as the first and second runners-up, respectively. Pavan Kalyan of NIT Calicut was named the Best Player.
In women’s handball, VNIT Nagpur secured the championship, followed by NIT Warangal and NIT Calicut. Bhagya Santoshi of VNIT Nagpur received the Best Player award.
NIT Jamshedpur won the men’s volleyball title, while NIT Tiruchirappalli and SVNIT Surat finished as the runners-up. Himanshu Teotia of NIT Jamshedpur was adjudged the Best Player.
In women’s volleyball, NIT Kurukshetra emerged as champions, followed by NIT Calicut and NIT Jamshedpur. Palak Chaudhary of NIT Kurukshetra received the Best Player award.
In men’s hockey, NIT Calicut won the championship, with host institute NIT Rourkela finishing as the first runner-up and NIT Tiruchirappalli as the second runner-up. Aman of NIT Rourkela was named the Best Player.
The valedictory ceremony was attended by NIT Rourkela Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Dean (Student Welfare) Prof. Rajeev Kumar Panda, Student Activity Centre (SAC) President Prof. Dillip Kumar Pradhan, Games and Sports Society Vice Presidents Prof. Mohd. Khalid Gul and Prof. Aditya Das, and Tournament Observer Dr. Manoj from NITK Surathkal.
The Games and Sports Society of the Student Activity Centre, NIT Rourkela, organised the meet under the coordination of Prof. Mohd. Khalid Gul and Prof. Aditya Das, with support from Sports Officer C. Alagesan and Sports Assistant Preetam K. Mishra.
NIT Rourkela thanked the All India Inter-NIT Sports Board for assigning it the responsibility of hosting the event. It also acknowledged the Sports and Youth Services Department of the Odisha government for providing the facilities at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium for the men’s hockey competition.
The institute also appreciated the contributions of its administration, sports officials, referees, coaches, volunteers and support staff in successfully conducting the event.
