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 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.
IIT DHARWAD has one Indoor sports complex at the permanent campus, in indoor Sports complex, four Badminton courts, Two Squash courts, two Table Tennis courts Two well-equipped gyms and one Boardroom are available.
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 120 players are participating in the 56th Inter IIT Sports Meet, which will be held at IIT Bombay and IIT Gandhinagar in December 2023. Furthermore, IIT DHARWAD also participated in the Inter IIT Staff Sports meet held in 2019.
Physical Education section also conducted the Inter Hostel General Sports Championship for IIT DHARWAD students. Furthermore, Gymkhana also regularly conducted Culture and Technical General Championship events for the IIT DHARWAD students.
During this pandemic situation, IIT DHARWAD Physical Education section has been engaging the students
through online fitness classes for all the students and arranging virtual fitness events.