SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) held a special ceremony to award sports quota certificates to 278 student-athletes and inaugurate the SRM Sports Hostel, a dedicated residential facility for high-performance athletes. The event, held at the Milkha Singh Stadium on the Kattankulathur campus, reinforces SRMIST’s long-standing commitment to supporting talented sportspersons through scholarships and world-class training infrastructure.
Sports Quota Certificates Presented to 278 Athletes
The certificates were presented, and the new facility inaugurated, by Thiru. R. Aadhav Arjuna, Hon’ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development, Government of Tamil Nadu. The ceremony was presided over by Dr. T. R. Paarivendhar, Founder Chancellor, SRMIST, in the presence of Dr. Ravi Pachamuthu, Pro Chancellor (Administration), and Dr. P. Sathyanarayanan, Pro Chancellor (Academics).
Also present were Shri S. Balaji, Trustee, SRMIST, along with Thiru. S. Thiyagarajan and Thiru. B. Vijayaraj, both MLAs from Tamil Nadu, the latter an alumnus of the SRM School of Law.
SRMIST Opens New SRM Sports Hostel for High-Performance Athletes
The newly inaugurated hostel is designed as a residential environment where student-athletes can pursue rigorous training alongside their academic coursework. It offers dedicated boarding, dining, and recovery spaces built around the training schedules of competitive sportspersons, so athletes no longer need to choose between a demanding practice routine and consistent access to their classes.
Speaking at the event, the Minister praised SRMIST’s support for sportspersons, which includes free education, free boarding and lodging, world-class sports infrastructure, and professional coaching. He noted that Tamil Nadu’s broader vision is to identify and nurture sporting talent between the ages of 8 and 18, and commended SRMIST’s role in extending financial assistance to athletes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Distinguished Alumni Felicitated
Alongside the certificate distribution, the event also felicitated distinguished SRM alumni who now serve the people of Tamil Nadu as elected representatives, including the two MLAs present. Dr. Paarivendhar noted that seeing student-athletes receive their sports quota certificates was a moment of pride for the University, and encouraged them to draw inspiration from the perseverance shown by public figures who have balanced service with personal achievement.
SRMIST’s Sporting Ecosystem
SRM Sports Hostel has for years been among India’s leading higher education institutions in backing talented sportspersons, combining scholarships, dedicated coaching, and modern sports facilities across its campuses. The Directorate of Sports conducts annual selection trials for candidates seeking admission under the sports quota across programmes including Engineering, Management, Science and Humanities, Law, and Hotel Management, with interested students required to register online and bring their sports certificates and testimonials for verification during the trial process.
With the addition of the new residential facility, the University aims to strengthen its high-performance sporting ecosystem further, an effort officials linked to India’s broader ambitions ahead of the 2036 Olympic Games. Several current and former SRMIST students have already represented India at international events, and the University expects the fresh batch of 278 certificate holders to build on that record in the seasons ahead.
