Merit takes a backseat in AIU trials for global meet
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) will be conducting archery trials, at the Punjabi University, on June 5 to select the Indian team for the World University Games at Kazan, Russia, from July 12-17.
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) will be conducting archery trials, at the Punjabi University, on June 5 to select the Indian team for the World University Games at Kazan, Russia, from July 12-17.
But it seems that the AIU has forgotten that archery does not figure in the list of 27 events for the Games.
During this period, the country's top shooters, who are eligible for the trials, will be competing in a junior international competition in Germany, which is the qualifying event for the 2014 Youth Olympics.
No logic
The AIU is focussing only on air events (rifle and pistol), leaving out firearm events, including 25m sports pistol, which gave India a silver in the London Olympics.
The list goes on. The AIU will be conducting athletics trials on the same date at the Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur. The university doesn't have a synthetic track, so the trials will be held on mud.
Like, shooting, the AIU doesn't want the best athletes to represent the country. The trials clash with the Senior Athletics Championship in Chennai (from June 3-8), so top athletes will miss out.
"How can the AIU conduct trials for an event, which is not listed for the World University Games. It shows how serious they are about sports,” said an official of Panjab University.
No place for talent
Indian shooters had won two gold at the last edition of the Games, held in China in 2011.
If the trials are conducted on June 5, it is certain that top names will not don national colours, and their absence will benefit those who are only looking for participation certificates to secure admission in institutes under the sports quota.
When contacted, AIU secretary-general, DS Chauhan, said, "I will look into the matter and discuss what can be done after consulting Gurdeep Singh, who looks after AIU sports."
Ironically, Gurdeep was the flag bearer during the last edition of the 2011 Games and this casual approach, and that of not furnishing details of expenditure led the sports ministry to stop funds to the AIU.
Following this, the AIU has written to the universities to bear the expenses of their students, if they make it to the India team for the Games.
"We are in communication with the ministry regarding funding and hopefully we will get it," said Chauhan.
