&w=3840&q=100)
Sports Ministry mulls new federation after AIU blunder at World University Games
Devyaniba Zala was among the Indian athletes who were barred from participating. Devyaniba Zala/Instagram
New Delhi: Livid with the 'mismanagement' that led to embarrassment for India in the World University Games, the sports ministry is considering the prospect of acting against the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) by setting up a separate federation to handle the administration of university-level sports.
The bronze-winning Indian badminton squad at the ongoing Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany found itself hounded by controversy when it came to light that six of the 12 chosen players were barred from participating after Indian officials failed to submit all names correctly during the managers' meeting on July 16.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
In addition, woman quarter-miler Devyaniba Zala also alleged that she could not compete as her name went 'missing because of late alteration by the officials in submitting the confirmation list'.
The ministry has taken note of the developments, it is reliably learnt.
'Clearly, they are unable to manage the affairs properly. Probably, the solution is a separate federation to handle administration. A revamp is needed because university sport is our best bet to find high-potential athletes,' a ministry source said.
'It is obviously sad that something like this happened and the country was embarrassed. This will be thoroughly looked into,' he added.
The AIU, which is the nodal body for university-level sports in the country, acknowledged the incident related to badminton and its secretary general Dr Pankaj Mittal said the 'matter is being investigated.' The athletes, meanwhile, could only lament the lapses.
'The frustrating thing is the officials don't even admit their mistakes or show any remorse,' an athlete competing at the Games had said after the fiasco.
'…the team travelled all the way, and yet in the manager's meeting they missed out names. I don't know how it is possible to overlook such a basic responsibility.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
26 minutes ago
- News18
Jasprit Bumrah To Kapil Dev: 11 Indians With 100+ Wickets In Tests (Away From Home)
Last Updated: In the last 93 years, a total of 11 Indian bowlers have managed to dismiss at least 100 batters in Test matches played away from home. In the last 93 years, a total of 24 bowlers have picked up more than 100 wickets in Tests for India. Of those 24 bowlers, 11 have managed to dismiss more than 100 batters in away Tests as well. Here's a look at them. 1/11 Ishant Sharma has played 63 away Tests so far for Team India, and in those 63 matches he has picked up 207 wickets. (Picture Credit: AFP) Ravichandran Ashwin is India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, but in the list of bowlers with the most wickets for India in away Tests, he takes 6th position with 154 wickets in 41 matches. (Picture Credit: AFP) Harbhajan Singh dismissed a total of 152 batters in 48 Test matches played outside India from 1998 to 2015. (Picture Credit: AFP) 10/11 Bhagwath Chandrasekhar played 26 Tests for India away from home, and in those fixtures he dismissed 100 batters. (Picture Credit: X/@ICC) Next Photogallery
Hindustan Times
33 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
India must think out of the box to cash in at The Oval
London: The Oval in 1971 witnessed a quantum leap forward for Indian cricket. Ajit Wadekar's side won a Test match in England here for the first time to also triumph in the series. At this venerable venue south of River Thames which staged the first ever Test in England in 1880, India prevailed on their last visit as well, in 2021. It's a setting where, psychologically, Indian cricketers feel most at home in England. The Oval, in London is a setting where, psychologically, Indian cricketers feel most at home in England. (PTI) The tourists would, in fact, confront England in the finale of the current five-Test series in better mental and physical shape than their opponents. It was demoralising for the hosts that they failed to bowl India out in their second innings in the fourth Test at Old Trafford despite having more than five sessions of play at their disposal to execute the task on a wearing pitch. Besides, England's bowlers rather ran themselves into the ground, delivering 257.1 overs in the match and being compelled to be on their feet for much of the last two days. The mere three days of downtime before the showdown at The Oval renders recovery a challenging process. Indeed, the home team's captain Ben Stokes, after his Herculean feat of capturing five wickets in the Indian first innings and scoring a century, was virtually hors de combat with hamstring and shoulder niggles. In contrast, the Indian bowlers sent down exactly 100 fewer overs, were not required to operate in England's second innings and, so, were bestowed almost two extra days of recuperation. Over and above, the tourists' heroic escape from the depths of zero for two in their second venture was as morale-boosting as a victory. England opting for the second new ball suited India as the harder cherry reduced the possibility of lower bounce. Just as much as England will ponder over resorting to fresh legs in the final Test – and they have pacers Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton to call upon – India will need to determine whether the leader of their fast bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah, with his brittle back, and Mohammed Siraj, who has played four Tests in five weeks and was erratic at Old Trafford, can be retained for a closing push in a crucial Test. Prasidh Krishna, who possesses extra pace and bounce, Akash Deep, a seamer who returned a match-winning haul of 10 wickets in the second Test at Edgbaston, and left-arm swing merchant Arshdeep Singh are all fit to step in as required. India's need for readjustment is caused by batsman-wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant's unavailability due to a foot fracture. However, an important reaffirmation at Old Trafford was Washington Sundar's potential as a batsman. It may be worth persevering with him at number five, where he batted in the second innings of the match to register a chanceless hundred. England's bowlers have, incidentally, been less effective against left-handers. Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion instead of Shardul Thakur is warranted. Indeed, ignoring this talented left-armer's claim against a unit who have historically been bamboozled by wrist spin might have cost India victory in the series. Bits and pieces cricketers don't win Test matches, neither does fear of defeat. Overall, pitches at The Oval are conducive to batting, with seamers deriving assistance from the new ball and spinners making their presence felt on the last two days. Bhagwat Chandrasekhar's rapid variety of freak wrist spin decimated England in 1971. Where finger spinners have made a limited impact because of an unusually dry English summer, Kuldeep's twirl, skid and bob off the wicket could well pose an examination for the Englishmen. Notwithstanding his brilliant batting, left-arm orthodox Ravindra Jadeja has over four series in England averaged an unimpressive 51 runs per scalp. Admittedly, India haven't played three spinners in a Test in England since 1990. But where the Indian bowling needs to conjure a coup de grace, an out-of-the-box approach, namely summoning Kuldeep's wicket-taking propensities, would be justified. Old Trafford could have culminated in a less honourable outcome, because of India's debatable choice of XI and skipper Shubman Gill's tactical inexperience. Sundar, picked as a bowling all-rounder, didn't get a look-in with the ball until the 69th over. Once Bumrah didn't break through with the new ball – which he hasn't for four innings in a row – India's became strangely a holding exercise. There was, for instance, no deployment of close catchers in front of the batsmen's eyes for the spinners. The prolific Joe Root seems destined to become the second highest century scorer and run-getter in Test history after Sachin Tendulkar. Clearly, India have to discover a method to curb his gluttonous tendencies. Kuldeep might just pose questions to him, which the other Indian bowlers, barring Bumrah occasionally, haven't. India are capable of squaring the series, and with it grabbing valuable away points in their quest to qualify for the 2027 World Test Championship final.
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Kho Kho secures spot in major national sports calendars
New Delhi, July 29 (UNI) In yet another major milestone for Kho Kho, the sport has now been formally included in the annual sports calendar of All India Electricity Sports Control Board (AIESCB), the premier governing body committed to the regulation and advancement of sports within the electricity sector across India which is a development that underscores the sport's rising stature. The announcement was made during the AIESCB's General Body Meeting held in Mumbai, where the sport was recognised as an official discipline alongside 16 other sports like cricket, football, kabaddi, badminton, hockey, tennis among others. This significant development marks a growing trend among government and semi-government organizations to embrace Kho Kho as a mainstream sport, thereby expanding its presence across major sporting calendars of various, government, non-government and autonomous bodies. With Kho Kho being included in the AIESCB's sports calendar, players now have increased avenues for stable careers through employment quotas in sports, providing further motivation for aspiring athletes to take up the game professionally. Kho Kho is already part of the sporting calendars of Services Sports Control Board and Railways Sports Promotion Board. The development not only highlights the sport's evolution from traditional roots to a professional format but also creates new employment opportunities through departmental teams and job reservations in various government sectors. "Kho Kho's inclusion in major sports calendars is much more than a symbolic recognition, it's a validation of the sport's growing relevance across India," said Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho Kho Federation of India. 'We are witnessing a major shift where a traditional Indian game is now commanding space at the highest institutional levels. This will inspire thousands of youth from rural and semi-urban India to pursue Kho Kho as a viable career option.' In a further affirmation of the sport's growing national stature, Kho Kho was also introduced for the first time in the Supreme Court of India's Annual Sports Meet earlier this month. This inclusion by a prestigious institution of national importance indicates the expanding visibility of Kho Kho in elite circles, both in terms of participation and recognition. The increasing adoption of Kho Kho by government and autonomous bodies contributes to the broader nationwide movement that aims to democratize sports participation and provide platforms for indigenous games to thrive. As the sport continues its upward trajectory, inclusion of the sport in major sporting calendars are playing a pivotal role in shaping a future where Kho Kho athletes have access to structured employment, sustained growth opportunities, and a pathway to represent India at national and international events. With more government bodies expected to follow suit, the future of Kho Kho as a sport and profession looks increasingly bright, bringing pride to its rich heritage and newfound momentum to its modern resurgence. UNI RKM
