IIT Bombay Gears Up for Inter IIT Sports Meet 2023: Reflecting on Past Glory and Future Aspirations

Introduction

As IIT Bombay eagerly anticipates the upcoming Inter IIT Sports Meet scheduled from December 10 to December 15, 2023, we reflect on the past performances of IIT Bombay, as well as shed light on the preparations leading up to this year’s Sports Meet.

Note: Basketball, Badminton, Hockey, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Weightlifting matches will be held in IIT Bombay while the remaining events will be held at Gandhinagar.

Reviewing the Past: Inter IIT 2022 Standings

In the 2022 Inter IIT Sports Meet, IIT Bombay showcased its prowess across various sports disciplines, securing a commendable overall standing of 5th position among 13 competing institutes. The individual sport standings were as follows:

Men’s Swimming: Silver

Men’s Basketball: Gold

Men’s Table Tennis: Silver

Men’s Football: Bronze

Chess: Gold

Women’s Squash: Silver

Men’s Squash: Bronze

Men’s Hockey: Bronze

While these achievements undoubtedly brought pride to the institute, the absence of podium finishes in certain sports highlighted areas for improvement. The dedicated athletes and coaching staff, however, used this as fuel for their relentless pursuit of excellence in the upcoming edition.

Pre-Event Celebration at SAC Backlawns

With the Inter IIT Sports Meet just around the corner, an event was held on 6th December 2023 at the SAC backlawns. The entire IIT Bombay contingent – athletes, coaches, and supporters came together to celebrate coupled with food and dance, fostering a sense of unity and mutual support amongst all the participating teams. On the eve of the event, all team captains shared inspiring messages, instilling a sense of camaraderie and confidence in their fellow athletes.

Noteworthy attendees included the Dean, Associate Dean, All Sports Officers and the SAC in charge, Mr. Harish. Their presence not only underscored the institutional support but also added to the festive atmosphere as they conveyed their heartfelt best wishes to the participating teams.

Preparations done by IITB for the event

IIT Bombay has always been at the forefront when it comes to hospitality. Preparations were done to provide food to the participants as well as coaches, aside from lodging facilities. We have also been providing snacks on the field to make it easily accessible to all the players. 

After the last Inter IIT Sports Meet, the organizing committee realized the importance of having physiotherapists to help the players recover faster and to maximize performance. This has been implemented successfully this year and there has been a drastic improvement across all sports in terms of lower recovery times, minor injury prevention, etc. 

IITB has also partnered with multiple major hospitals like Hiranandani, Lilavati Hospital along with the IITB hospital to ensure that healthcare facilities are in place in case of any emergencies. There are 3 ambulances present on campus currently to deal with such emergency situations.

All the matches are being live streamed so that students across India can watch and support their peers at this mega event. Any student can watch the matches either on the official Youtube channel of Inter IIT Sports, or download the Inter IIT Sports 2023 app which is available on both android and ios devices. 

Opening ceremony:

The opening ceremony for the 56th Inter-IIT was graced by the presence of the phenomenal Indian bowler, Venkatesh Prasad. To start the event, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof Suryanarayana Doolla presented the student address. Following that, The Director, Prof Subhasis Choudhary, hoisted the Inter-IIT flag along with Venkatesh Prasad. The director addressed the ceremony and shared his experience of Inter-IIT when he was an undergraduate at IIT Kharagpur and urged a healthy competitive spirit amongst the participating athletes. Then all the IITs participated in the march which was judged by the team led by Subhedar S. B.  Kadam, from 2 Maharashtra engineer regiment, NCC unit. This was followed by the tradition of lighting the torch, which was born by eight stellar athletes of IIT Bombay, and led to the lighting of the flame by the overall Inter-IIT sports meet coordinator. 

The contingent leaders of all IITs then participated in the oath-taking ceremony. This was followed by the chief guest’s address. Then the unveiling of the mascot for the meet, Zuri took place. Zuri means strength in Swahili, and the mascot represents power and confidence. Cultural performances of traditional Indian dances graced the stage. Mallakhamb was displayed by the renowned group Incredible Mallakhamb, which has been celebrated on various international stages. Rhythmic gymnastics was showcased by Mrs. Varsha Upadhye, who is an international coach and judge, and her team put forth an enchanting display of precision, focus, and poise. Towards the end of the ceremony, results of the march past were announced: IIT Madras stood third, IIT Delhi 2nd and IIT Bombay stole the show and stood in the first position. Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Atul Shrivastava gave a note of thanks to conclude the ceremony, followed by the national anthem.

An insight into the preparations by various teams

We talked to various team captains and vice captains about their preparation this year. 

Nitish Bhat, a first-year M. Tech student and captain of the chess team mentioned that the team is well prepared for the upcoming chess competition, and aims to replicate last year’s success (secured gold) despite the absence of a key player. The focus is on defensive play and securing points for the team. Madras and Delhi are identified as strong competitors, and the team has analyzed their weaknesses with the help of an international master coach. The team acknowledges a tendency to take unnecessary risks due to their passion for winning every game, emphasizing the need to learn when to settle for a draw. Intensive training, including 8-9 hours daily throughout December, involved analyzing and addressing individual weaknesses. The team also participated in the Maharashtra state tournament for additional practice and exposure.

Tanvi Sharma, a second-year undergraduate, and vice-captain of the tennis team mentions that she’s very confident in the team’s practice. They have taken valuable lessons from last year’s mistakes. 7 out of the 8 players this year are first-timers, which is seen as the team’s strength. The team started preparations from January 2023 itself where they identified key players and have been working to build the team since. Last year the team did not have practice playing under the sun, so they made an active change to shift practice timings to the afternoon. This helps them get accustomed to matchday conditions. The team has learnt that they need to be confident in their own game plan (to just play the ball)  and not change it too much based on who the competing team is. The coach mentioned to the team that his aim is for everyone to get game time and stay mentally fit. The captain and coach also emphasized the importance of maintaining your cool in matches and to not get carried away in the heat of the moment.

Krithika Mittal, the captain of the squash team mentioned that their preparation is much better than last year. “We started practices early and have been training harder than before. Of course we are aiming for gold this year. Last year we got silver. But whatever the outcome, I am proud of our team, we have put in a lot of effort”, said Krithika. She acknowledged IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur as their main competitions this year and mentioned that they have seen their game in Udghosh and have been training accordingly. “The team is experienced and practices have been going well, so confidence is good too. Just hoping for the best on the D day”, she added. She concluded by saying that last year the team was relatively new and that they didn’t have a fair idea of what to expect, but gave their best nonetheless.. This time they have seen our opponents earlier and have also played practice matches with professionals to improve themselves for the upcoming competition. 

Last year, the Basketball men’s team secured their first gold in around 13 years, while the women’s team finished fourth. Both teams are led by the oldest members and are highly diverse. Off-season (even semester) focuses on personal improvement, while the odd semester emphasizes team skills. “This year, half of the starting 7 line-up (core team) is final year, so definitely difficult with timing due to placement clashes, before and during the camp, but it is what is”, said the captain. The team also did not have a coach for most of last year, but this year their performance has been greatly enhanced due to the presence of proper coaching. Most injured players have returned, and no player is completely new hence it was easy for the team to gel with each other. Delhi was the toughest opponent last year, but the team also acknowledges that other IITs have also improved their game significantly and that they should aim to give their best in every game, regardless of who the opponent is.

Volleyball Girls Team Captain said,  “last season’s challenges stemmed from the team’s hasty formation during camp, leading to internal coordination issues. This year, a notable improvement was witnessed, marked by increased confidence and a stronger team bond”. They conducted fun & accommodating training sessions of which 80% of the sessions witnessed complete attendance. The student-friendly schedule enhanced understanding among team members, thanks to the coach’s innovative techniques. Despite the initial struggle, the team, led by a coach overseeing both genders, embraced these changes, even involving fourth-year students in placements. The captain highlighted setter techniques as crucial. Their target this year? “Go Bombay, Go for gold. Competing against major rivals IIT Roorkee and IIT Delhi, the team’s confidence in victory stems from keen observation skills, countermeasures like excellent drop techniques, precise service, and coordinated team talks.

Srajan, the boys captain, said previous setbacks during the Inter IIT in Roorkee were attributed to weather changes, leading to pre-quarter elimination. This year, with enhanced coordination and regular training, the boys’ team anticipates a triumphant comeback. Dedication and punctuality prevailed during practice sessions, featuring new drills and recovery sessions to boost potential. Identifying IIT Delhi, Roorkee, and Madras as strong competitors, the team is confident in their excellent blocking techniques and the advantage of having the tallest players. The captain ensures they’re well-prepared for the upcoming Inter IIT.

Badminton Captains Rupansh and Anya, new to the Inter IIT experience, express confidence in the revamped badminton team. Despite previous league knockouts, they now boast two national and state-level players. Home advantage and a well-balanced draw motivate them to secure a podium finish. The doubles players showcase coordination honed through diverse experiences. IIT Roorkee is considered their toughest competitor due to exceptional court coverage.

The ten-member weightlifting team dedicatedly practiced, focusing on technique improvements and instilling confidence. Delhi and Kharagpur are acknowledged as formidable competitors, considering the difference in player numbers. With the home advantage, the team, including their participating secretary, is ready for tough competition this year.

The football secretary, Ishaan Kothari, who is also a member of the team said the following: “Speaking about the team this year, we have a few changes from last year’s team. The core players remain the same with a few fresh faces. The team won the bronze medal last time and the aim is for a gold this year. We analyzed where we lacked last year and tried to work on it. One area where we fell short last year was the physicality in our gameplay. This time round, we have made a conscious decision of preparing specific drills in our training sessions to work on the same. Our team fitness looks good. We have realized that fitness plays a really big role going deep into the tournament, playing 6 games in 7 matches. Our game style continues to be possession based, something that worked really well for us last year as well. We realized very few teams have the ability to hold the ball and succeeding in doing so gives you a big edge. All this said and done, it really comes down to the hunger and effort that the boys will show and we hope to better our results than last time.”

Our Message

The Inter IIT competition coincides with a peak time when other institute residents are engrossed in club activities, IBs, and crucial placement seasons. In this critical juncture, where support for players is paramount, it’s disheartening that we, as institute residents, are unable to cheer for our friends. While other Inter IIT players receive overwhelming crowd support, it becomes our duty to spare some time and boost the enthusiasm of our teams. A single shoutout can be a game-changer on the scoreboard, and our collective encouragement can make a significant impact on their performance.