A delay in the sports timetable of the Mumbai University has led to chaos and fear among students. They have complained that the varsity administration is rushing to form teams for inter-university tournaments. All academic activities gradually resumed in accordance with the fixed academic calendar two years after the pandemic began, but athletics and other sports activities are still running behind schedule, placing students in a bind. The university sports calendar usually kicks off in September. However, students and activists have alleged that the varsity this year has not even held qualifying matches, and selection for tournaments is being done at the last minute.

No time to practise

For the west zone football tournament, to be held in Jabalpur on December 18, the university selected a team on December 13 creating anxiety and pressure amid those participating. Mumbai University zonal matches include college teams from the eastern suburbs, western suburbs, island city and Konkan region. Colleges play to compete within their zone and four teams are selected from each zone to play in the Mumbai university tournament. A final team is then selected from the tournament to compete at the All India Inter University tournament.