Ahmedabad: Gujarat University (GU) is grappling with allegations of serious negligence in the way it has managed the women’s team representing the varsity at the West Zone Inter-University Wrestling Tournament in Kurukshetra. The NSUI has cried foul over GU’s alleged decision to send a peon with the team for the March 17-20 tournament when the position, it says, should strictly be handled by “a qualified physical education professor, as mandated under university norms for national-level sports delegations”. In a formal petition to the university registrar, NSUI spokesperson Subhan Saiyed stated that the appointment of a “peon working on a contract or temporary basis” was a “display of serious negligence”. Highlighting that such administrative choices undermine the professional standards of the institution, the letter says, “While according to rules, only a physical education professor can go as the team’s coach and manager, the university is committing negligence by sending unqualified people from outside the subject in various sports.” Saiyed highlighted the potential risks to student-athletes, noting that if “any technical issue or challenge arises during the game, it is the responsibility of the coach and manager to make a decision”. The letter also alleges that the GU failing to provide qualified oversight means “the player has to bear the consequences” and adds that by sending “unqualified” personnel, the “dignity of the physical education field and GU is not being maintained”. A senior professor said, “A professor should accompany the team. If that professor is unavailable, the next most senior professor should be sent.”
