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MAKA Trophy criteria changed

Patiala, The change in the procedure to award the inter-university Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy is causing unease among various universities and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
The entire process of inviting applications and shortlisting the winner is conducted by AIU, but according to the change, it will now he handled by the Sports Ministry/Sports Authority of India. The revised guidelines state: “The applications from the universities, which were hitherto used to be invited and scrutinized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), will now be invited by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports/Sports Authority of India. Scrutiny of applications will also be done by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports/Sports Authority of India.” According to sources, the decision was taken by Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore.
AIU and university sources say that the decision of the Sports Ministry to take over the process will “increase interference by the Ministry in the universities’ working, which are autonomous in nature”.
Why change?

According to a Sports Ministry insider, the change was made to ensure a level playing field for all universities. “We want the points system to be transparent so that the universities are awarded points only on the basis of the performance of their athletes,” he said. “What was happening was that universities with good sports infrastructure were getting more points merely because they also hold various national championships. The new policy will ensure points are awarded for performance.”
The criteria for the calculation of points for the MAKA Trophy have also been revised. Accordingly, the performances of the students of the universities in Olympic or Paralympic Games, World Cup/World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Cup or Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Championships, World University Games, World University Championships, National University Games, Khelo India University Games, Inter Zonal Championships and
Intra Zonal University Games/Championships will also be taken into account. “Tournaments which are held more than once a year will not be considered for computation of marks,” according to the new policy.
More money

The amount prize money for the MAKA Trophy winner has been enhanced from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh; the first runners-up will now get Rs 7.5 lakh, up from Rs 5 lakh, while the second runners-up will be awarded 4.5 lakh, up from Rs 3 lakh.
Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi said he does not agree with the changes and would take up the issue with Rathore. “I do not see any reason for them to change the criteria for selection of the MAKA Trophy winner. Universities are autonomous bodies and AIU was doing a decent job in running sports in the universities,” Sodhi told TNS.
Last year, Punjabi University (Patiala) claimed the MAKA Trophy for the 10th time, and the sixth year in a row. Its sporting clout is expected to suffer after the changes. “We will closely study the changes and the guidelines issued by the Ministry,” said Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor BS Ghumman. “The changes made to the original criteria need discussion and we will go through it in detail.”
“Our Punjabi University has won the trophy many times,” Patiala Member Parliament Dharamvir Gandhi said. “The changes will affect the autonomous character of the university working. There can be more interference by the central Sports Ministry. These steps would lead to controlling sports and academics politically.”
TNS made several efforts to reach Rathore but he was unavailable for comments. An official attached with Rathore said no official response to The Tribune’s queries would be available at this time.

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