About

Brief History of the Department

The Department of Physical Education and Sports at Indraprastha College for Women has been an active and integral part of the College's commitment to holistic education and student development. Guided by the philosophy that "a healthy mind rests in a healthy body," the Department promotes physical fitness, health, well-being, sportsmanship, and leadership among students through a wide range of curricular and co-curricular activities. The Department takes pride in its distinguished alumni, including a former Captain of the Indian Women's Cricket Team, officers of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), national television sports journalists, and several national and international sportspersons.

Over the years, the Department has grown into a vibrant centre for sports and wellness, organizing Annual Sports Festivals, International Day of Yoga celebrations, self-defence programmes, first-aid training, yoga and meditation sessions, and various inter-college and intra-college sporting events. The Department is supported by excellent sports infrastructure, including a historic swimming pool established in 1956, fitness centre, tennis courts, basketball court, shooting range, squash court, climbing wall, yoga facilities, and other indoor and outdoor sports amenities. Through continuous participation in University, State, National, and international competitions, the Department has contributed significantly to the sporting achievements and overall development of students.

Notable Alumni

The Department of Physical Education and Sports takes pride in its distinguished alumni who have excelled at national and international levels, bringing laurels to the College and the country.

  1. Sunita Puri (1965–1970) – Recipient of the Arjuna Award (1966) and Captain of the Indian Women's Hockey Team.
  2. Manjula Dhankar (1970–1973) – Represented India in the Junior Asian Gymnastics Championship, Tokyo (1972).
  3. Roopam Monga (1981–1984) – Represented India in the Asian Basketball Confederation Championship, Tokyo (1982).
  4. Neetu Chandra (1996–1999) – Represented India in the World Taekwondo Championship, Hong Kong (1996).
  5. Sandhya (1998–2001) – Represented India in the 5th Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship, New Delhi (2002).
  6. Jyoti Sharma (2001–2004) – Represented India in the 1st Women’s Boxing Championship, USA (2001).
  7. Priya Dahiya – Former Captain of the Indian Netball Team. She represented India at the 6th Asian Youth Netball Championship (2008) and was recognized for her contribution to the XIX Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010.
  8. Shreya Saxena (2015–2018) – International Shooter who represented India in prestigious events including the ISSF World Shooting Championship, ISSF World Cup, Asian Airgun Championship, ISSF Junior World Championship, etc. and other international shooting competitions.
  9. WCM Arushi Kotwal – International Chess Player and recipient of the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. She has represented India in several national and international chess championships. Her achievements have been acknowledged by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. She was Champion in the Under-20 category at the Commonwealth Rapid Chess Championship 2024 and represented India at the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2024.

The Department continues to nurture sportspersons who excel in diverse sporting disciplines and contribute significantly to national and international sports.

Thrust Areas / Expertise / Research Areas

The Department is dedicated to fostering a culture of health & well-being, fitness, discipline, sportsmanship through a blend of academic learning, practical training, and experiential activities.

Sports Infrastructure and Training Facilities:

Outdoor Facilities

  • Swimming Pool 
  • Two Synthetic Tennis Courts 
  • Synthetic Basketball Court 
  • Two Volleyball Courts 
  • Netball Court 
  • Badminton Court 
  • Shot Put and Discus Arena 
  • Playing Areas for Softball, Baseball, Football, Archery, Cricket, Hockey, and other sports 

Indoor Facilities

  • Air-Conditioned Shooting Range 
  • Air-Conditioned Wooden Squash Court 
  • Fitness Centre 
  • Aerobic Hall 
  • Yoga Room 
  • Dance Room 
  • Chess Room 
  • Wooden Judo and Taekwondo Training Area 
  • Two Wooden Badminton Courts

Academic and Professional Areas

  • Fitness and Wellness 
  • Sports Training and Conditioning 
  • Yoga and Mental Well-being 
  • Stress Management 
  • Lifestyle Management through Physical Education
  • Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation. 
  • Indigenous Sports and Traditional Physical Practices 

Important Milestones

  1. The College swimming pool, inaugurated in 1956, remains a unique facility among women's colleges of the University of Delhi.
  2. Establishment and continued expansion of sports and fitness facilities at the College. Development of modern sports infrastructure including a shooting range, squash court, fitness centre, climbing wall and specialized training facilities.
  3. Consistent participation and achievements of students at University, State, National, and international levels across multiple sports disciplines.
  4. Establishment of the Centre for Yoga and Well-Being to promote physical and mental wellness through yoga.
  5. Introduction of regular self-defence training programmes in collaboration with Delhi Police.
  6. Successful hosting of Intercollege tournaments of various games like - Baseball, Volley ball, Archery etc. under the aegis of the Delhi University Sports Council.
  7. Organization of Inter-College Invitational Badminton and Tennis Tournaments.
  8. Successful transition to virtual fitness programmes, webinars, yoga sessions, and sports events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEP 2020 Initiatives and Implementation

In alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022 of the University of Delhi, the Department of Physical Education and Sports of IP College promotes multidisciplinary learning, skill development, experiential education, and holistic well-being. The Department contributes to the learner-centric framework through the offering of Generic Elective (GE), Skill Enhancement Course (SEC), and Value Addition Course (VAC) papers that foster physical fitness, mental health awareness, discipline, leadership, sportsmanship spirit and life skills.

The Department offers a diverse range of NEP-aligned Generic Elective courses, including Fitness and Wellness, Olympic Education, Lifestyle Management through Physical Activity, Introduction to Sports Training, Stress Management, Yoga and Stress Management, Obesity and Weight Management, Strength and Conditioning, and Adventure Sports. In addition, the Department offers the Value Addition Course Indigenous Sports and the Skill Enhancement Course Yoga in Practice, which provide students with opportunities to engage with India's sporting heritage, wellness traditions, and practical skill development.

These courses are designed to address current health and lifestyle challenges faced by students. These courses equip learners with knowledge and practical skills to manage stress, prevent lifestyle-related diseases, maintain physical and mental well-being, adopt healthy habits, and develop resilience in a rapidly changing world. Through a combination of theoretical understanding and experiential learning, students are encouraged to lead balanced, disciplined, and active lives while cultivating teamwork, leadership, self-management, and social responsibility.

By integrating fitness, wellness, sports education, and value-based learning, the Department of Physical Education and Sports of IP College actively supports the objectives of NEP 2020 and contributes to the holistic development of students, preparing them to become healthy, confident, and responsible citizens.

List of Faculty Members

  1. Dr. Himani Malhotra – Assistant Professor (UGC-NET Qualified, M.Phil., Ph.D.)
  2. Dr. Seema Singh – Professor (M.Phil., Ph.D.)