UGC grants to boost sporting infra at DU

New Delhi: In a bid to improve the sporting infrastructure of country's premium varsity and to produce more international sporting stars, the University Grants Commission (UGC) recently allotted Rs 1.75 crore for the Delhi University Sports Council (DUSC) in an effort to build new sporting amenities for the University students.

"Owing to the increase in applicants and dwindling sporting facilities, UGC has granted approximately Rs 1.75 crore to the DUSC," said Dr Anil Kumar Kalkal, Director of DUSC, who also stated that out of the Rs 1.75 crore, 90 lakh will go out for the construction of international state-of-the-art shooting range, Rs 75 lakh for the construction of 50 bed sports-hostel facility and Rs 10 lakh for the purchase of miscellaneous sporting equipment.

According to a DU Sports Council official, "currently, the sports quota trials of shooting take place in Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, and it's a monetary and logistical nightmare for the university, the students have to go to the Sports Authority of India maintained shooting range for practice too," he said. He added that the proposed hostel will allow DU's sports fraternity to host camps and it will also serve as residential quarters for the sportspersons coming to DU to participate in inter-university competitions. As of now, the university have to make arrangements for the stay of competitors in hostels of its affiliated colleges, which was itself a big task given the lack of hostel seats in the university.

Meanwhile, the sports quota trials begin from June 22 and the DU on Thursday night uploaded the marks of the applicants on the dashboard of respective students. "Any grievances regarding the marks and rejection of applications will be entertained till June 19, on the university's Website up to 3 pm," said Dr Kalkal.