KISS & KIIT’s Incredible Contributions to Sports

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New Delhi: Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) and KIIT Deemed to be
University, Bhubaneswar are well-known across India and globe. KISS is known to all as
the world’s largest tribal residential institution providing accommodation, food,
healthcare, and education from KG to PG, vocational training and all other basic
amenities of life absolutely free to 50,000 tribal children (30,000 existing student and
20,000 alumni). KISS has become the first University exclusively for tribal students in
India and in the entire world. Similarly, KIIT is one of the most promising institutions for
technical and professional education in India, attracting students from about 50
countries.
Besides quality education, KIIT & KISS have been according a high importance to sports
and games since their inception. The two institutions have created world-class sports
infrastructure and have produced more than 5000 sports talents in over 30 disciplines,
who have participated at international, national and regional level. It is a rare
achievement to produce so many sports talents at a single place. “Our students have been
representing India and Odisha regularly at international and national level sports meets,
including Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games”, informed Prof. Achyuta
Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS at a press meet in New Delhi on June 28, 2019.
KISS has played an important role in popularizing Rugby in India. At the initiative of Prof.
Samanta, Rugby was introduced to tribal students of the institute in 2006, at a time when
this sports was not so popular in India. Ever since, the institute has been spawning Rugby
talents, who have been making a mark at national and international level. “KISS Rugby
players both boys and girls have brought laurels for India many times. They have been
getting place in both Men and Women National Rugby Team for last 5 years and
performing very well in national and international championships”, said Prof. Samanta.
Recently the Indian women’s rugby team scripted history by clinching their first-ever
international 15-s victory against top ranked Singapore 21-19 and winning Bronze Medal
at the Asia Women’s Div-1 Rugby 15-s Championship. The tournament was held in
Manila, Philippines from June 17-23, 2019. Five students of KISS – Sumitra Nayak, Hupi
Majhi, Rajani Sabar, Meerarani Hembram and Parbati Kisku – were the part of the Indian
team. In fact, it was a penalty by KISS’s Sumitra Nayak in the dying minutes of the match
that sealed the narrow victory for India. Indian Women Rugby team, including Sumitra,
have got praise from various spheres for this victory.
Introducing Sumitra Nayak of KISS, Prof. Samanta described her struggles of life. Like
Sumitra, each player from KISS also has an inspiring story behind his/her, he said. KISS
is trying its best to bring many unknown talents to the limelight and giving them
international exposure since last 28 years. Due to dedicated and continuous efforts,
today many students of KISS have been bringing laurels to Odisha as well as India in the
field of sports and games. Currently, many students of KISS are training for upcoming
Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games, informed Prof. Samanta.
On this occasion, Prof. Samanta also thanked all the members of Indian Women Rugby
team along with officials of Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Odisha Rugby
Football Association (ORFA).

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