Inter-varsity championships: Association changes eligibility rules

Deepankar Sharda

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 27

The Associations of Indian Universities (AIU) has issued eligibility rules for participation in the National Games for the year 2020-21 onwards. Following compliance with a court’s judgment, the AIU decided to allow students aged from 17 to 25 years in All-India Inter-University Championships.

“It is hereby directed that those universities conducting All-India/Zonal Inter-University Championships, scheduled events for and from the year 2020-21 onwards, may permit participation of students between age group 17 to 25 years, by excluding the criteria splitting up to eight-year period by and between graduate and postgraduate courses/studies as mentioned in Clause 4 of the revised eligibility rules (sated July 28, 2017). All member universities of the AIU are directed to follow the above mentioned criteria,” read the circular.

Meanwhile, coaches and players welcomed the decision considering the time lost during the Covid pandemic. “The age-relaxation announced by the AIU will give relief to the players who did not play a single championship during the pandemic period. The authorities should now start organising championships without any delay. It will be a huge blow to all sports persons if the AIU fails to conduct any of the inter-college/inter-university or All-India Inter-University championships,” said a senior player. A coach added: “This has been a tough year for all of us and such a kind of relaxation will allow young players to participate in the championships. Also, the senior players will have another year to play, if any tournaments are conducted. This will be only beneficial, if tournaments get conducted. Otherwise, this relaxation will be beneficial for the tournaments to be held from next year onwards,” said the coach.

Sources claimed that the AIU was in no mood for conducting any championships. This will directly affect the universities and inter-college championships. “There’s no update on conducting inter-university championships in the near future. There has already been a huge delay in the current session and no inter-university championships mean no inter-college championships. This will be a huge loss to the sports persons. I think there should be some clarity by the AIU on this issue,” said a senior official.