Punjab: Sports infrastructure is improving rapidly
Punjab: GS Dhaliwal, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Physical Education and Sports at NIT Jalandhar, has dedicated his life to promoting sports. After joining the then Regional Engineering College (REC) in 1991, Dhaliwal promoted a sports-oriented atmosphere wherever he worked. In 1997, he became the first Director of Sports at Punjab Technical University (PTU) Jalandhar. In an interview with Akanksha N Bhardwaj, Dhaliwal shares his journey and dedication towards the world of sports.
Tell us about your own sporting journey. How did you start?
I got sports in my ‘gudti’ as my maternal uncle was also a very good sportsperson. I started playing at a very young age in school and then joined DAV College, where I played 800m and 400m hurdles. After completing my graduation and post-graduation, I joined REC (now NIT) Jalandhar in 1991.
n How did you start sports activities in the then REC, Jalandhar?
It was a big challenge for me to start sports activities without any infrastructure, as wild grass had spread in the uneven area set aside for the playground. However, within a few years, I managed to develop ten playgrounds and a 400-metre standard athletics track. Student sports activities started with the first ever athletics meet and we formed teams in major sports. We had a sports quota in admissions, which helped us recruit many national-level players who represented REC Jalandhar in inter-college and inter-university tournaments, excelling in football, basketball, cricket, badminton, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, athletics and swimming.
How long was your tenure at PTU and how did you start the sports activities of the newly established university?
I spent six years as Director of Sports at PTU on deputation before rejoining NIT Jalandhar in 2003. Initiating sports activities in a newly formed university was quite a tough task. During this time, I regularly held meetings with all the affiliated colleges to coordinate inter-college and inter-university tournaments. Within a short span of time, PTU made its name at the national level in the field of sports. We also developed the first sports calendar for institutions affiliated to PTU, Jalandhar. When you went back to NIT (your parent institution), what steps were taken to improve sports facilities? My focus was to continue improving our sports infrastructure by developing existing playgrounds and creating new playgrounds by expanding the playgrounds. We also managed to build basketball and badminton courts in the hostels. To promote fitness, we set up a national level indoor gym with state-of-the-art equipment. Additionally, we developed outdoor gyms at various locations around the campus and in each boys and girls hostel. The sports department extended indoor games like chess, table tennis and carrom to the hostellers. On reuniting, we followed the pattern set by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) by coordinating with sports professionals from other NITs. This led to the creation of All India Inter-NIT tournaments, which are now popular and successful across all NITs.
Can you tell us about the recent improvements in sports infrastructure at NIT Jalandhar?
In recent years, the development of sports infrastructure at NIT Jalandhar has gained momentum thanks to the efforts of our Director Professor Binod Kumar Kanaujia, who has taken a keen interest in student sports activities. The lawn tennis and basketball courts have been converted into synthetic courts. We now have four indoor badminton courts. All the playgrounds are lit up with modern floodlights, allowing players to practice even at odd hours. Additionally, new playgrounds have been built in the last few years.
Do you have any special plans for upcoming tournaments?
Backed by our excellent infrastructure, NIT Jalandhar recently hosted the All India Inter-NIT Basketball and Table Tennis Tournament (Men and Women) 2025 with 80 teams participating from NITs across the country. The Director of the Institute is planning to organize similar tournaments in the near future. We will also appoint professional coaches and a gym trainer to prepare our teams for better results in the upcoming tournaments. I am happy to inform you that a standard swimming pool will soon be developed in our campus thanks to the efforts of our Director.
