Reverse Sweep

Delhi University asks OC to convert the CWG Rugby stadium into cricket ground

In yet another assertion that there are no sportspersons in India apart from the cricketers, the Delhi University has asked the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games to convert the Rugby ground on the campus into a cricket ground.


Shaky Ground: Members of the Scotland rugby team during a practice
session in DU ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

The Rugby Stadium was made in place of the university cricket ground situated opposite the School of Open Learning and the varsity had taken a written assurance from the OC that after Games, it would relay the cricket pitch and renovate the ground.

"It just goes on to prove that all that talk of promoting sports other than cricket after a tremendous show at the CWG was nothing but gas," said an angry professor at the Delhi University.Questions are also being raised as to why the OC did not construct a new Rugby ground rather than making the pitch on a cricket field and dismantling it to make the cricket pitch again.

"It's a sheer waste of public money," the professor said."I have no idea as to the conversion of Rugby stadium into a cricket ground. I have not received anything in writing nor has it been conveyed yet. The Games are over nothing much is going to change for sports other than cricket," said Sudarshan Pathak, Coordinating director, Sports Council of Delhi University.

"The ground was given to the Commonwealth Games authorities on the condition that it would be converted into a cricket ground after the Games. It would be now turned into a cricket pitch of international standards," said Deepak Pental, vice-chancellor of Delhi University.

"We are yet to pass the budget for the project. But it should be ready within 4-5 months," said Pental.
The rented chairs for the main Rugby Sevens stadium are now being returned.

"There is no point having a Rugby stadium as it is not played in the university and nowhere in the city for that matter. Sports have not been given serious treatment at the university level. All what we have in the name of sports is cricket. At least now we would have a proper stadium for having cricket matches," said a Sports Council member of Delhi University.