Indian UniSport Federation Elects Achyuta Samanta as First President to Strengthen University Sports
Sports · 12 Oct 2026 · Source: Internet
The Indian UniSport Federation (IUSF) elected educationist and sports promoter Achyuta Samanta as its first president at its inaugural Annual General Meeting in New Delhi. Recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the federation aims to strengthen university-level sports, improve athlete training, promote fair selection and create more opportunities for Indian students to compete internationally.
India has taken a new step towards strengthening university-level sports with the Indian UniSport Federation (IUSF) electing Achyuta Samanta as its first president on 12 October 2026.
The election took place at the federation’s inaugural Annual General Meeting in New Delhi. Samanta, the founder of KIIT and KISS, was unanimously elected to lead the organisation, which aims to bring universities onto a common platform for sports development.
The federation has received recognition from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Its objective is to identify sporting talent among university students, improve access to coaching and training, and establish clearer pathways for athletes to progress from university competitions to national and international events.
One of the federation’s stated priorities is to make participation more accessible. According to reports, the proposed framework includes no individual participation fee for athletes and a uniform annual subscription of Rs 50,000 for government and private institutions. The federation has also outlined plans to improve access to sports science, nutrition, injury prevention, rehabilitation and financial assistance for athletes.
The IUSF intends to encourage university leagues and regular competitions while strengthening connections with the International University Sports Federation and other international sports organisations. These efforts could help Indian university athletes gain more opportunities to compete at events such as the World University Games and other major international competitions.
Transparent administration is another important area of focus. The federation has identified clear eligibility rules, advance publication of selection criteria, independent selection panels, grievance-redressal mechanisms and audited financial accounts as measures to support accountability and fair competition.
The development comes at a time when India is seeking to broaden its sporting talent pool and strengthen its preparations for future international competitions. University institutions can play an important role in this process by combining education with professional coaching, sports facilities and athlete support.
The effectiveness of the new federation will ultimately depend on how consistently it implements its proposed policies and how many athletes benefit from improved access to competitions, training and transparent selection procedures.