Raksha Khadse reviews NSU Imphal campus, 95% construction complete
Synopsis
India's only sports university is nearly built — and the government wants you to know it. With 95% of the 325-acre NSU campus at Koutruk complete and capacity for 1,300 students, Sports Minister Raksha Khadse's Imphal visit signals that the Centre is serious about making the North-East a cornerstone of India's high-performance sports future.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Raksha Khadse visited Imphal on 25 May 2025 to review the National Sports University (NSU) campus.
Nearly 95 per cent of the 325-acre permanent campus at Koutruk, Imphal West has been completed.
The campus can accommodate approximately 1,300 students and 60 faculty members .
Facilities include academic blocks, smart classrooms, a library, an auditorium, sports science labs, and residential hostels.
The Minister also inspected the SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Imphal, reviewing physiotherapy, nutrition, and sports medicine support systems.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Sunday, 25 May visited Imphal to review the progress of the National Sports University (NSU) permanent campus at Koutruk, Imphal West, and interacted with athletes, coaches, and sports officials as part of a broader assessment of the region's developing sports ecosystem.
Campus Progress and Infrastructure
Officials briefed the Minister that nearly 95 per cent of the 325-acre NSU campus has been completed. The facility encompasses academic blocks, smart classrooms, laboratories, a library, an auditorium, sports science infrastructure, and residential hostels with capacity for approximately 1,300 students and 60 faculty members. Khadse reviewed ongoing construction work and infrastructure development during the campus walkthrough.
She was accompanied by NSU Vice-Chancellor Daljit Singh Chawdhary, Manipur Sports Secretary N. Praveen Singh, and SAI Regional Director C. Dhandapani, among other senior officials.
Morning Training Session at SAI NCOE
The Minister began her visit by joining athletes for their morning training session at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Imphal. She observed fitness drills, conditioning exercises, and sport-specific practice, and participated in warm-up and mobility routines alongside athletes. She encouraged them to maintain discipline and pursue excellence at the international level.
High-Performance and Sports Science Ecosystem
Khadse also reviewed the integrated academic and high-performance ecosystem being developed at NSU, covering sports sciences, coaching, sports technology, athlete development, and research. At the SAI NCOE, she inspected athlete support systems including physiotherapy, recovery, nutrition, sports medicine, physiology, and strength and conditioning facilities.
Speaking during the visit, Khadse said India is witnessing major expansion in sports infrastructure and athlete development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She added that NSU is poised to become a landmark institution in shaping the future of Indian sport through a science- and research-driven approach.
North-East Focus and Strategic Significance
The visit underlines the government's stated focus on strengthening sports education, scientific training, and high-performance systems in the North-East, as part of broader efforts to position India as a global sporting hub. Notably, the NSU — established by an Act of Parliament — is the country's first sports university, making its Manipur location a deliberate signal of the Centre's intent to develop athletic talent beyond traditional hubs. With the campus nearing completion, attention will now turn to when full academic and training operations commence.
Point of View
But the harder question is whether a world-class campus translates into world-class outcomes. India has a history of building impressive sports infrastructure that underperforms on medal tallies — the question of coaching quality, talent pipeline, and post-graduation pathways for NSU students remains largely unanswered. Situating the country's first sports university in Manipur is symbolically significant given the state's outsized contribution to Olympic and combat sports, but symbolic investment must be matched by sustained operational funding. The visit's optics are strong; the accountability framework is still taking shape.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Sports University in Imphal?
The National Sports University (NSU) is India's first sports university, established by an Act of Parliament, with its permanent campus located at Koutruk in Imphal West, Manipur. It integrates academic education with high-performance sports training across disciplines including sports sciences, coaching, and sports technology.
How much of the NSU campus has been completed?
Officials informed Minister Raksha Khadse during her 25 May visit that nearly 95 per cent of the 325-acre campus has been completed. The facility includes academic blocks, laboratories, a library, an auditorium, and residential hostels.
How many students can the NSU campus accommodate?
The NSU campus at Koutruk, Imphal West has residential hostel capacity for approximately 1,300 students and 60 faculty members, according to officials who briefed the Minister during her visit.
Why did Raksha Khadse visit Imphal on 25 May?
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse visited Imphal to review construction progress at the NSU permanent campus, inspect athlete support systems at the SAI National Centre of Excellence, and interact with athletes, coaches, and sports officials as part of an assessment of the region's sports ecosystem.
What facilities does the SAI NCOE in Imphal offer athletes?
The SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Imphal provides athletes with support systems covering physiotherapy, recovery, nutrition, sports medicine, physiology, and strength and conditioning. The Minister reviewed these facilities and interacted with athletes and support staff during her visit.
