Only 6 teams for fencing c’ship

Deepankar Sharda 

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 25

Low participation has hit the credibility of an inter-college championship, organised by the Directorate of Sports Panjab University, yet again.  

On Sunday, only six teams showed up for the men’s Inter-College Fencing Championship. In October, the authorities had conducted the inter-college hockey championship with only five teams. 

GGDSD College (Sector 32), DAV College (Sector 10), Panjab University Campus, Post Graduate Government College (Sector 11), Government College of Commerce & Business Administration (Sector 50) and, surprisingly, Government College of Yoga and Health Education participated in the fencing championship. 

Notably, no team from Punjab participated in the championship. Panjab University has over 180 affiliated colleges, out of which nearly 110 colleges are co-ed. “This is no surprise. This year the participation of teams has hit a new low. Even in the judo championship, the organisers got only five or six entries per weight category. The Punjab University Sports Committee and the Directorate of Sports should come forward to improve the condition here,” said a fencing coach on the condition of anonymity. 

Another coach added, “This is not even a competition as many of the players are here for mere formality. The authorities should focus more on making the sport popular in colleges. The sports committee, which is represented by officials of various colleges, should also show keen interested in developing at least five events in their respective area.”   

Meanwhile, GGDSD SD College, Sector 32, won the championship by scoring 44 points. The Panjab University Campus claimed the second position by 30 points and Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, finished third by scoring nine points.