IIT Dharwad offers National Sports Organization (NSO) Course for First-year students in Athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Cricket, Chess, Football, Hockey, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball and Yoga. The NSO course is a compulsory course, which is an
academic requirement that needs to be cleared by all the first-year students.
IIT Dharwad has decent sports infrastructure in its transit campus. All the hostels have Table Tennis Tables, Carrom board and Chess boards. The Institute has an Athletics field, Cricket field, Football field, Hockey field, Basketball court, Tennis court, Two Volleyball
courts, Board room game, Weight lifting room and well-equipped Gym with a part-time Gym Instructor.
IIT Dharwad Sports contingent has been participating in the Inter IIT Sports Meet since its inception, having secured its first medal in Para-power lifting in 2018. IIT Dharwad with a strong contingent of 87 players participated in the Inter IIT Sports Meet which was
held at IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bhubaneswar in December 2019. Furthermore, IIT Dharwad also participated in Inter IIT Staff Sports meet held in 2019.
Physical Education section also conducted the Inter-Department and Hostel General Sports Championship Trophy for IIT Dharwad students. Furthermore, Gymkhana also conducted regularly Culture and Technical General Championship Trophy events for the
IIT Dharwad students.
During this pandemic situation, IIT Dharwad Physical Education section has been engaging the students through online fitness class for all the students and arranging the
virtual fitness events.
Three Assistant Sports Officers handle under the able guidance of Dr.B.B. Appaji (Sr. Sports officer) the IIT Dharwad Physical Education Section along with several part-time coaches.