Sports trials off to smooth start in colleges

NEW DELHI: With the fitness test results out on Monday, Delhi University colleges have started conducting sports trials from Tuesday morning. A well-coordinated effort seems to be working with the trial schedule this time as there has been reportedly no clashes between trials of two or more colleges for a specific sport. And in rare cases where there are clashes, college authorities promised to help out the students.
Hansraj organized boys’ swimming trials from 8.30am on Tuesday at SAC Government Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Shamnath Marg. Students who had qualified the general fitness test were allowed to take these trials. There was a crowd of over 47 students, all eager to take trials and enter a college of their choice.
Authorities of particular colleges were present to organize the trials for various sports. MP Sharma, associate professor of physical education at Hans Raj College, said: “Students have to do two events, one is their forte and the other is 200 metres individual medley, which comprises of 50 metres of each of the four swimming styles. The former is to test their strength and the latter to test their endurance.”
Some students faced a dilemma during their fitness test. Although Stephen’s was advised by DU Sports Council to keep their trials after June 22, it held its first trial on June 18. Rahul Sharma, a DU aspirant, said: “I had to finish the fitness test by June 19 because I had applied for admission in Stephen’s as well and their date for swimming trials was June 20.”
Some students who appeared for trials were of the view the fitness test is a futile exercise. According to them, trials were testing their strength and endurance anyway. Many were of the opinion that they wasted three days, sitting at Polo Ground, waiting for their turn because during trials these students hardly stood a chance of getting selected.
Pulkit Lalwani, a badminton player, said, “Had I known that other students are so much better than me at badminton, I would not have wasted three days on the fitness test.”
Stephen’s has completed all sports trials, except football and cricket for boys. SRCC conducted their first sports trials on Tuesday morning as well, starting with badminton for boys and girls. Most colleges will be completing their sports trials by June-end.