Men’s waterpolo semi-final: Calcutta and Calicut university teams disqualified for trading blows during match

Olympian shivani kataria of delhi university won six gold medals in Inter University Swimming Championship held at Panjab University Swimming Pool on Monday. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

CONDEMNING THE clash between players of Calcutta University and Calicut University during the men’s waterpolo semi-final at the All India Inter- University Swimming Championship on Sunday, Panjab University Sports Director Parminder Singh Ahluwalia said such incidents would be sternly dealt with and the university would ensure that these do not occur in future.

On Sunday, substitute players of Calicut University allegedly entered the pool after the match and thrashed two Caclutta University players following which both teams were disqualified. “The clash happened between the two teams during the last minute of the semi-final match and substitute players of one team entered the pool and fought with Calcutta University team players.

The tournament officials stopped them and later filed a complaint with the organising committee headed by tournament director Amarjeet Singh, a former NIS swimming coach. The jury, consisting of myself, deputy director sports and international swimmer Jashandeep, decided to terminate both the teams from the tournament. Such steps are needed to show students that indiscipline will not be tolerated,” said Ahluwalia.

On Sunday, the Calcutta University team was leading 17-13 in the semi-final when the substitute players of Calicut University entered the pool in the last minute and were seen thrashing two Calcutta University players followed by an altercation between the two teams outside the pool. After the match, the match officials reported the incident to the organising committee and later in the evening, the coaches of both teams, Vinod Kumar of Calicut University and D Biplav of Calcutta University, submitted an apology and a letter of misconduct by their players to the organising committee of the championship.

Incidentally, there was no All India Universities (AIU) observer for the championship. The AIU shortlisted the observers in March and Ahluwalia stated that the university would again ask AIU to send an observer for next month’s Inter-University Boxing Championships. “We got the letter from AIU about the observer but he did not come. We appointed tournament director and we understand that such issues of indiscipline can happen. Panjab University will host the All India Inter-University Boxing Championship from November 18 and we would need an AIU observer to make sure such incidents do not happen again,” said Ahluwalia.