Players very few in Gurgaon, selection trials for Khelo India centre cut short

GURGAON: The department of sports had to cut short the selection trials for admission in the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence that was scheduled to be held in the city over the last weekend attributing to the shortage of candidates. Anyone willing to appear for the trials from Gurgaon have now been instructed to reach Tau Devi Lal stadium in Panchkula on Tuesday and Wednesday.
District sports officer Sandhu Bala said, “A total of 50 candidates appeared for boxing trials on Saturday and little to no footfall was expected on Sunday. Hence, the department cancelled the trials on the second day.”
When asked the reason behind the low footfall, Bala said, “Players are apprehensive about leaving their hometown and taking admission in a residential academy in a faraway place. Since the State Centre of Excellence is in Panchkula, several aspiring boxers chose to stay back and wait for an opportunity at a national level.”
Many parents too dissuade their wards from moving to a new city altogether only to pursue sports as a profession, despite Haryana being among the primary states producing national and international level sportspersons, she added.
The department of sports in Haryana had released a notification to organise selection trials for candidates falling in the age group 14 to 23 years. The centre of excellence has been organising trials for boxing, badminton and athletics across the state since April 4.
The trials for badminton and athletics were held on April 6 in the city at iSmash Badminton Academy and Tau Devi Lal Stadium, respectively. While only 25 players turned out for badminton, there were 50 boys and 21 girls appearing for the athletics.