PU submits bid for hosting six inter-university events

The Directorate of Sports, Panjab University, has submitted a request to the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) for hosting six North Zone or All-India Inter-University Championships for the current session in the city.

The AIU — the body responsible for running university-level sport in the nation, had recently came under the scanner of the Indian Sports Ministry following allegations of ‘mismanagement and incompetence’ in the World University Games held in Germany.

The PU authorities have expressed their interest in hosting the events of wrestling, weightlifting, judo, basketball, rowing and yoga for men and women. In the past, the university had hosted many inter-university championships, including rowing, baseball and swimming. It last hosted the All-India Inter-University Shooting Championship at the Mohali Shooting Range in January, in which Olympian shooters also participated. In the following month, the women’s weightlifting team of the university had claimed overall second position in the (2024) All-India Inter-University Weightlifting Championship organised by the Central University of Himachal Pradesh.

As per the set practice, a university submit its stakes for hosting events, and the AIU finally approves/disapproves the allotment of the events to the interested institution. “We are expecting to host from three to four events. However, the final confirmation will be announced by the AIU later this month,” confirmed an official.

If awarded, the university will be eyeing a few events before the Khelo India University Games 2025, scheduled to be held in Jaipur in November.

Meanwhile, the department will also announce its schedule for hosting inter-college championships after the AIU releases its annual calendar. “In recent years, the department has started conducting intercollege championships at colleges based in Punjab as well, instead of hosting all events in Chandigarh-based colleges or at the university campus grounds. We have to wait to see, if the practice continues or all disciplines will be conducted at one common place (in Chandigarh),” said a faculty of a local college.

In 2022, the university had the honour to host six All-India Inter-University events of gymnastics, rowing and softball for both men and women.