Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Thursday stood by India U-19 World Cup winning captain Unmukt Chand, assuring to take up his case with the Delhi University and the St. Stephen's College authorities, says a report in The DNA. Unmukt, who played a crucial knock of 111 not out in the final against Australia last Sunday to lead India Under-19 team to the World Cup glory, has been barred from taking the second semester exams because of low attendance and stands to lose a year of college due to low attendance.
"I think, it's totally unfair. The University and the college authorities instead of disallowing him from exams should find a way out for such sportspersons. I don't think that this is the right way and I intend to take up the issue with the Delhi university and also with his college. It's just because of the sports quota that they induct such international level players into their colleges and universities. So, instead of just saying that we won't allow you to give exams, they should try and counsel such students. They should call them, have special classes and if needed also hold special exams for them," Maken told 'Times Now', according to the report.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, India skipper MS Dhoni and sports minister Ajay Maken came out in support of under-19 skipper Unmukt Chand in his ongoing battle with St Stephen’s. The college barred Chand from taking his BA second semester exams due to lack of attendance. “Marks for sports takes backseat attendance takes centrestage. Shows how much importance sports has in India,” tweeted Dhoni.
Meanwhile a report in Indian Express says that as the chorus grew shriller against St Stephen’s College for disallowing cricketer Unmukt Chand to sit for an examination because of poor attendance, Delhi University (DU) on Thursday asked the college to submit all documents on the cricketer. Unmukt, who played a crucial knock of 111 not out in the final against Australia last Sunday to lead India Under-19 team to World Cup glory, stands to lose a year of college.
“DU has a very liberal approach towards sportspersons and it applies especially to Unmukt’s case. We will ensure that Unmukt’s academic pursuits do not suffer because of his sporting responsibilities. I came to know about it (that he is barred from sitting for the exam) only two days ago. Since we do not have any paper on the case, I have asked the college to forward all the documents to us,” Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh said. Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal took up the matter with the DU Vice-Chancellor on Thursday and asked him to intervene, sources said.
