Stress on games

Patna University is now focusing on sending its team to various inter-university tournaments with an aim to promote sports on the campus.

The university will soon organise inter-college and selection trial of cricket teams. The selection trial of cricket teams for inter-college will be held from November 12. While the two-day inter-college cricket tournament for boys will be held at Patna Science College, the venue for girls’ team is yet to be decided.

Based on performance of individuals in the inter-college tournament, a university team would be constituted. The cricket team will participate in east-zone inter-university cricket tournament at Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh) stating November 19. Though the tournament is from November 19, the Patna University team’s — both boys’ and girls’ matches — will start on November 26.

Before the PU team’s visit to Jaunpur University, it will also conduct selection trial for the varsity badminton team. The selection trial will be held at Wheeler Senate Hall. Also, the selection for varsity ball-badminton team will be held from November 10. The separate teams of boys’ and girls’ in ball-badminton will participate at inter-zonal university tournament in Chennai.

Patna University sports board secretary Suheli Mehta said: “The university of late has decided to promote sports. Teams participating at various inter-university tournaments is in that direction.”

Suehli added that extra-curricular activities, including sports, are very important for all-round development of students. If students are encouraged in sports activities, their mind is not distracted and they do not indulge in anti-academic activities.

Apart from sending teams for participating at various inter-university sports events, the university has also decided to organise varsity annual sports meet.

Major sporting events from long jump, high jump to race among others will be held at annual sports meet. The annual sports meet will be held at Patna Science College from December 10 to 12.

The students have welcomed the decision of sending university team to various inter-university sports tournaments. Amit Jha, a student of Patna Science College, said: “It is good that the university administration has once again decided to focus on sports. Sports and games are as much important like academics.”

However, the student doubts about the consistency of such initiative of the university. Amit said: “Three years back, Patna University decided to participate at inter-university tournaments and teams of some sports events were also constituted but the process stopped without any reason.”