Unsporting gesture at DU

18-year-old aspirant, who's played state-level cricket, claims Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce authorities first selected him under sports quota and later put him on the waiting list

The admissions process at Delhi University is over. Dreams of many aspirants have come true; hundreds of others have gone home disappointed. But the case of 18-year-old Ravi Chauhan is a bit different. An avid cricket player, Chauhan aspired to study at the Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce (SGGS), DU. The aspirant had appeared for his cricket trials on July 1, 2011, which he cleared and had his name among the short listed candidates for admission under the sports quota in the list put up on the college notice board on July 2. But when he reached SGGS to complete formalities on July 7, he could not find his name on the board. College officials told him that admissions would be carried out on the basis of a new list that they had released.


Not playing ball: Ravi Chauhan (right) was first short-listed by the
college (left) and then put onu00a0 the waiting list for no apparent
reason. Pics/Mid Day

On paper
The university admission criteria for sports and Extra Curricular Activity (ECA) are divided into two categoriesu00a0- 75 marks for certificates and 25 for trial performance. The aspirant had cleared the trial with full marks and had all the required certificates of state level championships to secure admission through the quota.
"I secured cent per cent marks for the trial and I have all the certificates required that fulfil the criteria. I have played cricket at the state level under-16 twice and under-15 once. Also I have played at the zonal level.

The first list had four candidates, including me. I was asked to come on July 7 and take admission, but when I reached the college, they had put up another list in which my name was put in the stand by category, which is I can take admission, only in case if one of the candidates withdraws his name. This is unfair on the part of the college authorities.

I alw2ays wanted to study here," said Ravi Chauhan who has secured an aggregate of 62 per cent in class XII CBSE, from Vidya Jain Public School, Rohini.u00a0However, the college sports authorities believe they could not do anything about the case as it's the final decision of the four to five member sports committee of the college.

Not cricket
Gurdev Singh, sports manager, SGGS said: "The first list put up by the college was not the final list for admissions. The decision has been taken unanimously by the college sports body. The aspirant, no doubt had performed brilliantly in the trial. But sadly, according to DU sports norms, the trial comprises only of 25 marks, leaving the rest on the sports background of the candidate. Usually there is no standby admission list, but since he was a promising candidate we will consider his name if a seat is left after the short listed candidates have been examined."

"My son has played state level cricket and has secured championship in the zonals as well. I don't know why his name was removed from the list of the four candidates, while the other three names have been retained. This is injustice to his future," said an anxious Inderjeet Singh Chauhan, Ravi's father.u00a0

Meanwhile, Uday Bhan, the sports coach at SGGS is of the view that Chauhan was a promising candidate and had performed well in the trial, but he does not have sufficient marks in his class XII aggregate. "As per the college rules an applicant must have 60 per cent aggregate in CBSE boards. Chauhan's best four aggregate is 62 per cent including physical education, but the college does not recognise the inclusion of the subject in best four aggregate, which has gone against him supposedly," said Bhan.

Also, Chauhan has appealed to the college authorities to look into the matter, but the family has not received any intimation so far. "The university marking scheme for sports admissions is faulty. We feel sad for students who give their best, but are still turned down based on unnecessary guidelines.

We need students like him to build a good team, to produce champions. We will try to help him," added Gurdev Singh. However, Dr JB Singh, principal, SGGS, who is also the chairman of the sports college committee, despite repeated attempts, was not available for comment.

Unpopular
Delhi University colleges have said the University Sports Council guidelines for ranking candidates, who appear for sports trials in individual and team events, are flawed and unfair to talented students.
They said that in accordance with the guidelines released to college sports departments prior to the trials, players who have participated in national-level competitions after excelling at lower levels are being awarded less points than those who have played well in lower-level competitions.

Straight talk
u00a0"I do not have a say in college admissions. Though, a student can go to our sports advisors and discuss the matter with them. They might be able to help them. Also, the university marking system on the whole has loopholes."
- Dr MC Aggarwal, Delhi University Sports Council (DUSC) chairman