Retired 1982 batch IAS officer Shishir Sinha has been appointed the first Vice Chancellor of Bihar Sports University, Rajgir in Nalanda district.
A notification to this effect was issued by the government on Saturday evening. Sinha had taken voluntary retirement from service in 2018 while being the Development Commissioner.
Although the government decided to set up a sports university only in July 2018, three years later in July 2021, the Bihar Legislature passed the Bihar Sports University Bill and after the approval of the Governor, it was notified in the state gazette. The passage of the bill coincided with the Olympics.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had inaugurated the state’s first sports academy and Bihar Sports University, which will be part of the International Sports Complex in Rajgir, on National Sports Day on August 29. Asian women’s hockey, featuring six international teams, is also scheduled to be played at the complex in November.
Sinha will have the difficult responsibility of leading the state’s first sports university, which aims to build the sports culture that had vanished in Bihar in the last few decades despite some individual players making their mark and producing players in various disciplines. aims to provide a platform to achieve excellence. In national and international events.
The government has already appointed IAS officer Rajinikanth, a native of Nalanda, as the registrar of the university. He was also given the charge of acting VC till the appointment of regular office bearer. Incidentally, Rajinikanth had also taken voluntary retirement after his tenure as DM.
However, after voluntary retirement, Sinha, who is considered close to the CM and son-in-law of veteran BJP leader Dr CP Thakur, has been getting important posts like many other bureaucrats. Earlier he served as the Chairman of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) and Chairman of Bihar Electricity Regulatory Authority.
Senior IPS officer Ravindran Shankaran, Additional Director General of Bihar State Sports Authority, has been given the additional charge of Director General of Bihar State Sports Academy.
Although the main objective of the academy is to groom national and international players across various disciplines by providing the right environment, facilities and training, which the state lacks, it remains to be seen how successful this mega project turns out to be. To change the sports profile of the state.
The recent Ranji Trophy matches held at the dilapidated Moinul Haq stadium, which once hosted international matches, were widely criticized on social media, but earlier this month the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) was granted a 30-year lease by the state government. Was given. Its redevelopment as an international stadium with all modern facilities with the support of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
1983 Indian World Cup-winning team member and TMC MP Kirti Azad said the sport is a highly specialized and technical field and professionals are needed to take it forward.
“Building an academy is not a big deal, running it professionally is definitely a big deal. This requires expertise from the players. Why did we have to leave Bihar? Simply because there was nothing in it to support the brothers and keep the game going. Unfortunately, not much has changed. The approach needs to change,” he said.
Another international cricketer Amikar Dayal said that including players with passion and expertise will help.
“It would have been better if the government had given some key posts to the players. IAS officers may be good administrators, but that is not the only thing required for the game. Having a sports academy and sports university is a good initiative, but ultimately it all depends on sportsmanship, atmosphere and expertise.
