The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) has once again proven its mettle beyond academics, delivering a spectacular performance at the twin national sporting events for the IIT community. The institute's students and staff demonstrated exceptional athletic prowess at the recently concluded 58th Inter IIT Students' Sports Meet 2025 and the 30th Inter-IIT Staff Sports Meet 2025, highlighting a deep-rooted culture of sports excellence.
Student Contingent's Stellar Achievements and Podium Finishes
IIT Kanpur's student team, comprising 185 determined athletes, competed fiercely at the meet hosted jointly by IIT Hyderabad, IIT Madras, and IIT Tirupati. The collective effort earned the institute a commendable overall 5th position. A particularly outstanding achievement was the men's contingent securing an impressive 3rd place overall in the standings.
The athletics arena witnessed historic moments for IIT Kanpur. Karishma Singh emerged as a star, leaping to a gold medal in the women's long jump. Her jump of 4.99 meters shattered the previous Inter IIT record of 4.86 meters. She added a silver medal in the 100m hurdles, where teammate Sameira R. Nair clinched the bronze. In the men's track events, Anukalp Rai secured a silver medal in the 110m hurdles.
Team sports brought further glory. The men's hockey team triumphed with a gold medal, and the lawn tennis team won silver. The women's squash team also grabbed a silver, while the men's basketball and both the men's and women's table tennis teams secured bronze medals.
Strength in Weightlifting and Aquatics
Beyond the track and field, IIT Kanpur athletes dominated in strength sports. In weightlifting, Dhruv Shetty lifted his way to a gold in the 79 kg category, and Sabavath Venkatesh earned a silver in the 65 kg category. The aquatic contingent also made a splash at the separate 39th Inter IIT Aquatics Meet in Madras, with the water polo team winning a bronze medal.
Staff Contingent Matches the Zeal
Parallelly, the institute's staff members mirrored the students' success at their dedicated meet in Hyderabad. The staff contingent secured an overall 4th position, showcasing the all-round sporting spirit at IIT Kanpur. The men's squash team became champions, winning gold, and the men's basketball team added a bronze.
Staff athletes also excelled in individual track and field events, winning medals in the 100m, 5000m, discus, javelin, and shot put. Ms. Anjani Dubey was a standout performer, securing multiple podium finishes for the institute.
The dual successes at these prestigious inter-IIT meets underscore IIT Kanpur's sustained commitment to fostering holistic development. By promoting sports and physical education with equal vigor, the institute continues to build champions who excel both in the laboratory and on the field.
