Calcutta University takes one more step to normalcy, starts sports trials – Times of India

KOLKATA: Calcutta University is conducting a selection trial for the sports team of the University of Calcutta for the 2021-22 session, making it the first biggest non-academic event involving colleges since the pandemic broke out.
This indicates that educational institutes in the city are gradually looking to return to some sort of normality, to the world that we once knew before the pandemic.
The trials in various disciplines, such as hockey, cricket, handball, boxing, judo, archery, water polo, athletics, wrestling, shooting, karate and swimming, started on Friday and the selection will be done for both men’s and women’s teams shortly. The selected teams representing CU will compete with teams from other universities in the tournaments organised by the Association of Universities to be held from next week.
Calcutta University has invited students from all its affiliated colleges to participate in the trials but has not forgotten about the Covid-appropriate measures. To ensure safety, the authorities have made it compulsory for the participants to be fully vaccinated and that they should follow all Covid-appropriate norms laid down by the government. Authorities are expecting a good turnout of students.
“It is a two-tier tournament. The teams will first play at the eastern zone level and if they qualify, they will go further,” said Aminul Hoque, sports officer at the University of Calcutta.
If any participating college was unable to send its team for any of the events, it must inform the university in advance with proper reason for the withdrawal from the competition, said an official.
After institutes reopened, students and teachers engaging in more academic as well as non-academic activities was a positive sign, especially in the post-pandemic world, said an official. “Sports is an integral part of campus life, but it had come to a complete standstill ever since the novel coronavirus pandemic broke out. It is a relief to see students and teachers back on the playground with all the precautions,” said an official of the university.