There's good news for sports lovers at Patna University. It is planning to hold sports meets after a decade.

The varsity will put forward its demand before the University Grants Commission in March for the long-pending demand by students. Universities will stake their claim to organise a sports meet in football, chess or ball badminton.

The last time PU hosted an inter-university sports meet was in 2005, when more than a dozen teams from different universities took part. The university has decided to hold the sports meet to involve students in extra-curricular activities. Before the sports meet, the varsity also has to organise a sports tourney (inter-college and inter-department meets) before finalising the team.

Patna University dean, social welfare, Dolly Sinha said: "Patna University will stake its claim to hold an inter-university sports meet so that students apart from their academics can focus on extra-curricular activities."

She said: "Before organising inter-university sports meet, the administration will develop a culture of sports among students. The university will hold inter-college and inter-departments tourneys."

Sinha added: "A few colleges such as Patna Women's College, Magadh Mahila College and others have been organising inter-college tournaments but there are hardly any sports or cultural activities for postgraduate students. The focus will be on organising sports meet at postgraduate levels too."

Patna Science College organised a sports meet on the campus on February 6. Patna University vice-chancellor Y.C. Simhadri inaugurated it.

The university administration last month organised a meeting, which was attended by Sinha, PU sports secretary Suheli and sports coordinators from different colleges.

Suheli said: "The idea behind holding the sports meets at college levels, department levels and between universities is to engage students in extra-curricular activities. It has been observed that students indulge in anti-academic activities because of lack of sports events. The best way to utilise their resources is to ensure their participation in sports and cultural activities."

Patna Science College student Jayant Kumar Singh said: "The university's decision to focus on sports is good. PU is one of the few universities that have the best infrastructure with huge grounds in colleges. Apart from not utilising the grounds, there is a shortage of sports infrastructure. None of the colleges of PU have sports kits in their common rooms."