Bhubaneswar: KIIT-DU is set to make history by sending the largest contingent of student-athletes among all Indian universities to the 2025 World University Games (WUG) in Germany.

KIIT’s 40 athletes represents the highest number by an Indian university in a single edition of the Games.

Over 300 Indian student-athletes — aged between 17 and 25 — from 61 universities will vie for glory at the 2025 World University Games, to be held across Rhine-Ruhr region and Berlin from July 16 to 27.

The athletes were selected through trials that drew entries from more than 400 universities across the country.

KIIT has also again been entrusted as a Nodal University by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), continuing a leadership role it has played in previous editions such as Napoli 2019 and Chengdu 2023.

The athletes representing KIIT include Rupal (400m), Ankita Dhyani (3000m steeplechase), Jeswin Aldrin (long jump), Praveen Chithravel (triple jump) and Animesh Kujur (national record holder in 100m).

One athlete each from Utkal University and Sambalpur University have also been selected for the Indian contingent, taking the number of representative from Odisha to 42.

“We are promoting ‘Education with Sports’ model at KIIT. KIIT University has invested heavily in sporting infrastructure, training facilities, and athlete support systems,” said KIIT and KISS founder Dr Achyuta Samanta.

KIIT’s role in the Indian delegation won’t be limited only to athletes. The 407-member contingent (including officials) will benefit from the presence of seasoned coaches and experts such as Arjuna Awardee Rahul Banerjee (archery), Surinder Singh (national archery coach), Sanjay Garnaik (athletics coach), Lotak Bindu Dash (volleyball coach) and Baljit Singh Sekhon (shooting official and Head of delegation).