NEW DELHI: Fish curry, chicken yakhni pulao, paneer tikka and tossed soya chunks are now part of IIT-Madras's effort to improve sporting performance. The institute has introduced a dedicated "Protein Mess", backed by academic flexibility, fitness training and psychological conditioning for student-athletes.Described by IIT-M as the first such facility among the 23 IITs, the mess provides protein-rich meals designed in consultation with professional nutritionists. Its rotating menu also includes mutton rogan josh, egg bhurji, sprouts, dal makhani, sweet potato and chickpea sundal.The initiative is intended to support muscle recovery, endurance and sustained training. Ahead of Inter-IIT competitions, probable athletes and members of the institute contingent were given access to the specialised diet for three months, replacing nutrition support previously concentrated around a 15-day preparatory camp.Athletes paid half the cost, while the remaining amount was covered through institutional and alumni support. The institute, however, has not disclosed the number of beneficiaries, total subsidy or the protein and calorie content of individual meals.The dining initiative forms part of a wider support system for students representing IIT-M at tournaments. "To support student-athletes, IIT-Madras has introduced academic flexibility measures such as attendance relaxation for tournaments, makeup examinations for missed quizzes and end-of-semester examinations," dean (students) Sathyanarayana N Gummadi said.

The system also includes fitness training and psychological conditioning.Director V Kamakoti said sports and the arts promoted "teamwork, attention to detail, good health and good mental balance", qualities needed for success in life.The institute has also created an admission pathway for accomplished sportspersons. It became the first IIT to introduce sports excellence admission in 2024-25, offering supernumerary undergraduate seats to candidates who qualify JEE Advanced and meet prescribed sporting criteria. Fourteen students joined IIT-M through this route during the 2024 and 2025 admission cycles.Since 2024, IIT-Madras has also incorporated recreational sports into the first-year curriculum, including athletics, volleyball, basketball and handball.