In 2019, Delhi University had removed more than 10 sports for availing of admissions quota. The university took the decision to reintroduce fencing after Bhavani Devi’s performance in the 2020 Olympics, where she was India’s lone representative in this category.
In a TOI report, Anil Kumar Kalkal, director of Delhi University Sports Council, said, “Bhavani Devi represented India at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and gave a wonderful performance. With such international performances, we thought it would be important to bring the sports back.”
He added that the sport doesn’t require any major infrastructure, and that earlier, students used to practice in the sports stadium itself. “The trials also used to be conducted there. After we interacted with the Fencing Association, we were told that many schools were offering this game”, he added.
Four DU colleges — Bhagini Nivedita, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Maharaja Agrasen and Mata Sundri College for Women — before 2019, used to admit students under this sports quota. 31 applications for the sport were received in 2018.
Ball badminton, powerlifting, best physique, korfball, archery (Indian) and relay 400m and 200m were the other games that were removed from the sports list. Yoga used to be earlier under the sports category admissions, but is now a part of the extra-curricular activities quota.
The sports trials will hold 50% weightage, 25% for Common University Entrance Test (CUET) score and 25% for certificates. This year, students can submit five certificates starting from April 1, 2017 to June 30, 2022. But students of A category who have played international games will get direct entry. They have to just appear for CUET. Its marks will not be included in the final combined score merit.
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