Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, July 27
In a major blow, Punjabi University is set to lose the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy for the academic year 2017-18. Punjabi University has won the national inter-university sports title for the MAKA Trophy six years years in a row, and 10 times overall. The contesting universities were invited to submit self-calculated claims based on the performances of the athletes and teams for the trophy.
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has claimed to have amassed highest points — 107,745, and Panjab University, Chandigarh, is on the second spot with 89,740 points. Punjabi University is third with 88,840 points. Last year, Punjabi University had claimed the title by accumulating 89,635 points.
However, there is still hope for the 10-time champions as the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has invited objections to the claims made by the universities.
Punjabi University Sports Director Gurdeep Kaur said, “I have asked for the hard copies of the claims made by the top two universities. We will definitely object to their claims. We are also ready to counter objections from other universities.”
Punjabi University officials say that rankings may change after the objections are verified. The contesting universities have been given till July 31 to raise objections to the self-claimed points by the universities.
AIU will hold a meeting on August 8 to verify the objections made by the contesting universities. If any university is found guilty of making a false claim, it university will lose 20 percent points.
Funds crunch
When asked about the varsity’s performance, Kaur said, “Most sportspersons belong to the economically weaker sections but the university has not paid for their diet and accommodation for various Inter-university tournaments. If the situation remains same, we will slip further.”
Notably, the entire process of inviting applications and shortlisting the winner is conducted by AIU at present. But in future the applications will be invited by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports/Sports India. Scrutiny of applications will also be done by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports/Sports India.
MAKA toppers
10 Times Punjabi Univ has won it, 6 times in row from 2012 to 2017
22 Times GNDU Univ has won it, 7 times in a row (1979-1985)
13 Times the trophy was won by Panjab Univ, Chandigarh, the last time in 2005
