The University of Hyderabad (UoH) celebrated National Sports Day 2026 with great enthusiasm and active participation from the University community. The three-day sports celebrations were organised by the Department of Physical Education and Sports, Office of the Dean Students’ Welfare (O/o DSW), University of Hyderabad, from 27 to 29 August 2026 at the University Sports Complex.
The celebrations were organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of legendary Indian hockey player Major Dhyan Chand and to highlight the importance of sports, physical fitness, mental well-being and a healthy lifestyle among students, faculty and staff.
More than 350 registrations were received from the UoH community across various sporting and fitness categories, reflecting the growing interest and enthusiasm for sports and fitness activities on the campus.
Sports and Fitness Events
A wide range of competitive sporting and fitness activities were conducted during the three-day celebrations. The events provided opportunities for participants with different sporting interests and fitness levels to take part and showcase their abilities.
The competitions included:
Table Tennis
- Men’s Singles
- Women’s Singles
- Men’s Doubles
- Women’s Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
Badminton
- Men’s Singles
- Women’s Singles
- Men’s Doubles
- Women’s Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
Fitness Challenge
Separate fitness challenges were conducted for men and women, comprising:
- Push-ups
- Squats
- Plank
- Bench Press
The fitness challenge was designed to test different components of physical fitness, including muscular strength, muscular endurance and core stability. Based on their overall performance across the prescribed fitness events, the titles of “Fittest Man of UoH” and “Fittest Woman of UoH” were also awarded.
The competitions witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, research scholars, faculty and staff of the University. The Sports Complex remained vibrant throughout the three days with participants competing in a spirit of discipline, sportsmanship and healthy competition.
Valedictory Ceremony
The three-day National Sports Day celebrations concluded with a Valedictory Ceremony at the University Sports Complex on 29 August 2026.
Dr. Aliba AO, Deputy Dean Students’ Welfare (Deputy DSW), was the Chief Guest of the valedictory programme. Dr. Siddhartha Anandesi, Assistant Director, Physical Education and Sports, presided over the programme.
Gym Instructors Shri Eshwar Bahadur and Shri Raheem, Yoga Instructor Shri Malikarjun, and other staff members of the Department of Physical Education and Sports were present. A large number of students, faculty members, staff and prize winners attended the ceremony.
Chief Guest’s Message
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Aliba AO, Deputy DSW, congratulated the Department of Physical Education and Sports for organising the National Sports Day celebrations and appreciated the enthusiastic participation of the University community.
He emphasised that sports and physical activity should become a part of one’s daily habit and lifestyle rather than being limited to competitions or special occasions. he highlighted that regular participation in sports helps maintain good physical health and also contributes significantly to mental well-being.
Referring to the hectic schedules and academic and professional pressures faced by students, faculty and staff, she observed that regular physical activity can help reduce mental stress, refresh the mind and improve overall quality of life. He encouraged the University community to make sports and fitness an integral part of their daily routine.
He also congratulated all the participants and prize winners and encouraged them to continue their sporting and fitness pursuits with the same enthusiasm.
Assistant Director’s Address
In his address, Dr. Siddhartha Anandesi, Assistant Director, Physical Education and Sports, explained the significance of National Sports Day, observed every year on 29 August to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, one of India’s greatest hockey legends.
He highlighted that National Sports Day is not merely a day to celebrate sporting achievements but also an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of fitness, discipline, teamwork, perseverance and a healthy lifestyle.
He recalled the legendary story associated with Major Dhyan Chand and Adolf Hitler during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Dhyan Chand’s extraordinary hockey skills and the Indian team’s performance reportedly drew admiration in Berlin, with the story recounting that Hitler was greatly impressed by Dhyan Chand’s exceptional talent and offered him a position in the German Army. Dhyan Chand, however, remained committed to India and his country. The story has since become part of the enduring legacy surrounding the hockey legend and symbolises his exceptional sporting ability and dedication to the nation.
Dr. Siddharth emphasised that the legacy of Dhyan Chand should inspire the younger generation to pursue excellence through hard work, discipline, commitment and sportsmanship. He also stressed the need to make sports and physical fitness an integral part of campus life.
He appreciated the participation of more than 350 members of the UoH community and thanked the University administration, O/o DSW, participants, officials, instructors and PES staff for their support in making the celebrations successful.
Felicitation of Prize Winners
The valedictory ceremony concluded with the felicitation of the winners of the various sporting and fitness competitions.
The medal winners and title winners were honoured with medals, certificates and trophies in recognition of their outstanding performances. The winners received appreciation from the Chief Guest, University officials and the Department of Physical Education and Sports.
The organisers congratulated all the winners and participants and appreciated their sporting spirit, discipline and enthusiasm throughout the three-day celebrations.
LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS
1. Table Tennis
| Event | Position | Prize Winner(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Singles | I | Aditya Kumar |
| II | Dr. Siddharth Anandesi | |
| III | Anil Kumar | |
| Men’s Doubles | I | Aditya K. & Piyush Kamal |
| II | Md. Shahrukh & Dr. Siddharth Anandesi | |
| III | Zeehan & Manas | |
| Mixed Doubles | I | Shahrukh & Aishwarya |
| II | Aditya & Varshika | |
| III | Zeehan & Vidhi | |
| Women’s Singles | I | Lalitha |
| II | Varshika | |
| III | Aishwarya | |
| Women’s Doubles | I | Aishwarya & Vidhi |
| II | Varshika & Lalitha | |
| Overall Champion – Table Tennis | Champion | Aditya Kumar |
2. Badminton
| Event | Position | Prize Winner(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed Doubles | I | Rahul & Manu |
| II | Vamsi & Sandhya | |
| Men’s Doubles | I | Rahul & Vamsi |
| II | Somu & Saurabh | |
| Women’s Doubles | I | Chaitanya & Sayani |
| II | Amartya & Sandhya | |
| Men’s Singles | I | Rahul |
| II | Vamsi–Sumit | |
| Women’s Singles | I | Amartya |
| II | Manu | |
| Overall Champion – Badminton | Champion | Rahul |
3. Men’s Fitness Challenge
| Fitness Event | Position / Result | Prize Winner(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Squats | I | Rahul |
| II | Priyanshu | |
| Plank | I | Priyanshu |
| II | Ayush Singh | |
| Bench Press | Winner | Kishore |
| Push-ups | Joint Winners | Priyanshu & Parvez |
| Deadlift | — | Result to be inserted |
4. Overall Fitness Titles
| Title | Winner |
|---|---|
| Fittest Man of UoH | Priyanshu |
| Fittest Woman of UoH | Swetha S. |
Overall Fitness Performance
Priyanshu was adjudged the Fittest Man of UoH based on his outstanding overall performance in the men’s fitness challenge. He secured first position in the Plank event, second position in Squats, and was a joint winner in Push-ups.
Swetha S. was declared the Fittest Woman of UoH in recognition of her outstanding all-round performance across the women’s fitness challenge events.
The Fitness Challenge witnessed enthusiastic participation from the University community and assessed participants across various fitness parameters, including strength, muscular endurance, core strength and overall physical fitness.
5. Overall Champions
| Sport / Category | Overall Champion |
|---|---|
 Table Tennis |
Aditya Kumar |
| Badminton |
Rahul |
| Fittest Man of UoH |
Priyanshu |
| Fittest Woman of UoH |
Swetha S. |
The National Sports Day celebrations at the University of Hyderabad successfully brought together the University community through sport, fitness and healthy competition. The enthusiastic participation of more than 350 members demonstrated the growing importance of physical activity and sports in campus life.
The three-day programme served not only as a platform to identify and recognise sporting talent but also reinforced the message that regular physical activity is essential for a healthy body, a stress-free mind and a balanced lifestyle.
The Department of Physical Education and Sports expresses its gratitude to the University administration, Office of the Dean Students’ Welfare, participants, officials, instructors, staff and the entire UoH community for their valuable support and enthusiastic participation in making the National Sports Day 2026 celebrations a success.