Amritsar’s GNDU reclaims MAKA Trophy

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, has won the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for 2017-18.

The MAKA Trophy, first given in 1956-57, is awarded annually to the university with the best all-round performance. The winner gets a replica of the trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, which is to be utilised for sports activities.

GNDU has reclaimed the trophy after a gap of six years after garnering 107745 points to break a six-year stranglehold of Punjabi University, Patiala.

GNDU has claimed the trophy for the 22nd time. Punjabi University, who had been winning the trophy since 2011-12, was second with a total of 88840 points.  

Panjab University, Chandigarh, was third with a total of 71712 points. Panjab University was docked 20 percent of points as a wrongful claim was found during scrutiny in their statement of self-calculated marks.

MDU, Rohtak, was placed fourth with 29025 points, followed by Kurukshetra University with 21840 points. Mangalore University and University of Calcutta make up the top seven with 10825 and 3450 points, respectively.

The MAKA Trophy is a coveted award for the Punjab and Haryana varsities and usually an expansive celebration follows after the award.

Dubious sports

Many of these universities shore up their statement of marks with wins in nondescript sports disciplines. Ball badminton, drop ball, floor ball, tug of war, roll ball, rope mallakhamb, rope skipping, soft baseball, mini golf, target ball and best physique are some of the sports disciplines that add to the score tally of these universities.

But this academic year will be last time when these sports will be taken into consideration. The Sports Ministry has revised the guidelines for the 2018-19 assessment year and only sports disciplines which were part of the last Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games cycle will be hence considered.

Accordingly, the Panjab University has dropped 23 sports disciplines from its inter-college championships calendar this year.