Seeking a national perspective

Jamia is a regular participant in inter-university tournaments. Sports and games activities involve 11 clubs which operate in the University and students are encouraged to join one or more of these clubs. In addition to cricket the university won the All India Rohinton Baria inter-varsity title in Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi in 1989-90, football and hockey, Jamia also has facilities for tennis, shooting and boxing.

Hockey has been one of the favourite disciplines of the university over the years. The varsity team finished runners-up in the North Zone Inter-Varsity Championship at Meerut. And, in the All-India championship at Ranchi, the team narrowly lost in the semi-finals to finish third and were awarded a cash prize of Rs 20,000.

Ajit Singh, Mahesh Rawat, Ratip Sharma and Surender Rawat of the university represented Delhi in the Senior National Hockey Championships. Mahesh Rawat had captained the Delhi junior team which finished third. And, a couple of Jamia8217;s students 8212; Brejnev Singh and Jargroop Singh 8212; were members of the Air India Academy which finished runner-up.

Jamia8217;s hockey and cricket teams won the All India IIT sports festival tournament at Kanpur and Jamia won the overall championship trophy last year. Their football squad finished runners-up at the festival.

8220;In football, we have a fairly decent team, coached by Abid Akhtar, elder brother of Delhi and North Zone cricketer Feroz Ghayaz,8221; says Noor Mohammad, Director Sports, Jamia Millia, who is in charge of sports activities in the University.

In recent years, as in most other universities, shooting has attracted the students of Jamia Millia. Vivek Singh and Mohammed Faizal have done the varsity proud in their respective events. Vivek Singh has already represented the country while Faizal won a gold in trap event juniors and surpassed the existing National record of 37/50 set by V M Pushlappa in 1994.

Cricket, not surprisingly, remains one of the most sought-after games in the university. Jamia8217;s Virender Sehwag was a member of the India Under-19 team that participated in the Junior World Cup in South Africa early this year.

The University8217;s pugilists also did well last year. Anil Kumar claimed a silver in the All India Inter-Varsity Boxing Championship in light weight and Arun Sharma won a bronze in feather weight category. Anil Kumar also won a silver in the All India A K Mishra Boxing Championships.

Basketball is another discipline in which Jamia has been doing well over the years. Its men cagers won the All India university winners in 1993-94, and many have found a place in the Nationals. Sandeep Singh and Sanjay Singh made it to the Delhi basketball team in the Senior Nationals. Surinder Singh Rawat, an NIS-qualified coach, is in-charge of the basketball team.

Although it is a co-educational institution, women participate in very few disciplines. 8220;Basketball is one of the rare events in which our girl students participate,8221; Noor Mohammad says, adding that the Rs five lakh grant by the University is 8220;too meagre a sum to cater to the rising sports awareness among the new generation.8221; Although at present Jamia is keeping a low profile on its sports activities and performances, Noor Mohammad is confident that in the coming years its sportspersons would achieve better results in the inter-varsity competitions.