Medal count up, but Khelo India University Games overall trophy a distant dream for PU

Panjab University, which boasts of several Olympians and even medal winners, finished sixth in the recently concluded Khelo India University Games (KIUG) —their lowest-ever finish since the inception of the event.

The varsity contingent finished with a total of 66 medals at the latest edition, which concluded at Rajasthan. Last year, the university had won 40 medals to finish fourth. However, PU had posted topped the medal tally twice in past and stood third once.

This year, the varsity won 33 silver medals — the highest number among the top-five finishers. Interestingly though, the region’s private varsities and another state-run government institution finished ahead on the points’ table, leaving PU with a lot to mull over in its bid to get its hands back on the overall Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.

PU has the advantage of its nearly 200-strong affiliated colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh—both known for producing world class players. The varsity fielded 163 players at the Games this year, the highest number in shooting and kayaking/canoeing (30), besides having representatives in athletics (27), archery (10), badminton (7), boxing (4), rugby (12-member team), judo (5), volleyball (the 14-member team), basketball (men women), swimming (10), weightlifting (6), yoga (6) table tennis (5), wrestling (4) and tennis (4).

Tally breakdown

PU’s contingent brought back 14 gold, 33 silver and 19 bronze medals in an edition marked by specific varsities dominating particular events. Chandigarh University, Ghauran, bagged the overall trophy for the second consecutive time. The triumph was driven by a mastery in kayaking/canoeing—which was introduced for the first time this year. It bagged 23 gold medals in the single discipline.

Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, which has nearly 170 affiliated colleges, claimed the third position by showcasing a similar dominance in cycling and shooting. Fourth-placed Jain University too followed the trend, pushing its tally up with 27 gold medals in swimming alone. Lovely Professional University, for their part, claimed the second position by claiming gold medals in various events.

For PU, shooting and kayaking/canoeing contributed to a majority of medals. Shooters won six gold, nine silver and three bronze medals, while 12 silver and four bronze medals came the varsity’s way in the water sports.

In shooting, PU boasts of decent infrastructure — an indoor shooting range on campus and availability of the Sector-25 shooting range. On the top of it, shooters are known to practice on their own. For water sports, the varsity has an access to the Lake Sports Complex.

The other rich of medals for PU was recorded in athletics with four gold, five silver and two bronze medals. Two gold medals in judo, one in yoga and one in boxing took its tally to 14 gold medals.

Shows evident progress: Director Sports

“The university has recorded a good jump in the number of medals, if compared to last year. We had won 40 medals in the last edition, and this time the increase in number of medals shows evident progress,” said Dr Rakesh Malik, Director Sports, PU.