NSU to host East Zone Inter-University Games in Imphal

IMPHAL — The National Sports University (NSU), the only sports varsity in the country located in Manipur, is hosting the first-ever East Zone Inter-University Games 2024-25 for women’s football and men’s badminton in Imphal from November 1 to 10.

During a press conference at the NSU premises in Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal, on Wednesday, vice chancellor Prof. Usha S Nair announced that the football tournament will commence with an opening ceremony on November 1, while badminton will start on November 6.

Olympian weightlifter N Kunjarani, former Indian women’s football captain O Bembem, head coach of the Indian senior women’s football team L Chaoba, state sports director T Phulen Meitei, and others will attend the opening ceremony.

Prof. Usha stated that a total of 30 universities from the East Zone, including those from Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, have confirmed their participation in the East Zone Inter-University women’s football tournament, while 60 universities will participate in the East Zone men’s badminton tournament.

She added that a total of eight universities from the northeast will also participate in the upcoming event.

The women’s football matches will be held at four different football fields—three at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex and one at the Sports Authority of India Complex at Takyelpat. The men’s badminton tournament will take place at the indoor stadium in the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.

Registrar Dr. L Dibamani Singh of NSU informed that accommodation for the officials and players is being arranged at two different youth hostels in and around the Khuman Lampak sports premises.

Dibamani added that the basic idea behind organising these tournaments is to explore and motivate sports talents to consider pursuing sports as a career, in addition to focusing on academics.