UT Sports Dept’s U-19 inter-school cash prize tourney postponed

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 4

The U-19 cash prize inter-school tournament for various disciplines, which was to be organised last month, has been postponed due to busy schedule of the ongoing School National Games and upcoming Khelo India Games.  

The UT Sports Department organises this inter-school tournament in both U-14 and U-19 categories. While the U-14 category tournament was conducted in September, the U-19 was scheduled for November.

In April 2018, the UT Sports Department included it in their annual calendar after a gap of almost five years. The tournament aims to promote local talent as it gives them a platform to perform, gain exposure and earn awards. The first three finishers of each event are given cash awards.

“We will try to conduct this tournament as early as possible. Earlier it was schedule for November, but due to events of the School National Games it has been postponed,” said Sports Director Tejdeep Singh Saini. “We are already on the verge of starting coaching camps for eight different disciplines meant for selecting teams for the Khelo India Games. We will try to adjust this (inter-school) tournament in between or in coming months. One thing is clear, the tournament is not cancelled but postponed,” added Saini.

In September during the U-14 category, events in archery, athletics, gymnastics, volleyball, badminton, boxing, basketball, handball, kabaddi, kho-kho, tennis, cricket, judo, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo were organised. Over 1,200 children participated in that three-day tournament.

Khelo India camps

The Sports Department will start coaching camps to select eight teams for the Khelo India Games (U-17, U-21 categories) from December 5, informed Saini.

The department has got the approval for sending eight teams, including four of hockey, two of volleyball and one each of kabaddi and football, in both the age groups.

The Khelo India Games will be held in Guwahati from January 10, 2020.

“We have already selected the probables and during this camp the final squad will be selected. The players will be provided with adequate diet and kits during this camp,” said Saini. "I have high hopes from the local players as they have been selected among the best states having proper and essential facilities for the development of the players. The coaches have been asked to do their best to ensure good results in Guwahati.”