The hitherto neglected field of sports medicine is finally getting recognition in the Indian education establishment.

The Calcutta University in Kolkata will soon offer the country's first university-level sports medicine course. The West Bengal government has okayed the one-year certificate course, which will be open to all who pass the MBBS exam.

Sporting circles now hope that awareness about the necessity and benefits of a specialised subject like sports medicine, which presently is abysmally low in India, will grow with the introduction of the course.

The university syndicate has finalised the syllabus. While the clinical aspect of the course will be taught at the state-run SSKM Hospital, the theoretical classes could be held at the university's College Street campus.

The university authorities have plans to upgrade the one-year certificate course into a full-fledged degree course in future.

Says former city sheriff and sports medicine practitioner Sunil Thakur: "Sports medicine is not all about treating sports-related injuries, but also about keeping a player fit."

Former hockey Olympian Leslie Claudius regrets that though there has been talk about a scientific approach to sports, India has continued to neglect the study of sports medicine.

"We can hope that this would change now."

"A scientific approach to sports includes recognising the importance of sports medicine," says former footballer Sailen Manna.