Centralised trials for sports quota: Entry to get tougher,say students

Sudarshan Pathak,coordinating director of the university sports council,said: “This is only an effort to save the time and energy of the candidates,so they don’t have to take the trials at every college separately.”

There are,however,no plans of centralising the admission procedure for applicants through the sports quota.

Students and colleges have a divided opinion about this change in structure. Ramjas College is protesting against the centralisation of sports trials. College principal Rajendra Prasad said,“The University is trying to destroy the autonomy of individual colleges by interfering in our internal matters.”

Students have joined in the protest,claiming the centralised trials will make the admission more competitive. Raunaq Mehta,a national-level badminton player and an applicant at the Hindu College,said,“We will be judged against a bigger crowd,which can lower our ranking. Individual college trials are better.”

Shri Ram College of Commerce principal,P C Jain,has a different opinion. “Centralisation of trials makes the admission procedure more transparent,in addition to reducing the burden on candidates. We will co-operate with the university over this decision.”

Colleges usually allot a combined five per cent quota for sports and Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) category. Some,like Miranda House and IP College,provide five per cent reservation just for sports category candidates. Colleges are still awaiting the revised guidelines from DU. Trial dates will be revealed in a fortnight.

Dean of Students’ Welfare S K Vij said weightage of certificates of participation and medals won has been increased to 75 per cent,while the weightage of the trials has been reduced to 25 per cent. Continuity in performance over the last three years would also be taken into consideration.

“This will ensure only genuine candidates are admitted,and would also be beneficial to the condition of sports in DU and the country,” Vij said. To ensure transparency,a committee comprising representatives from all colleges will oversee the trials.

Meanwhile,students excelling in off-beat sports complain of the non-availabilty of their sport at popular colleges. Virender,a national-level yoga practitioner,said,“I have not been able to apply to the colleges of my choice through the quota as it is a rare sport.”