No attendance for playing!

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Delhi University gives special consideration to sportsmen during admissions but then, does it follow it up by giving them attendance?

Unmukt Chand has already been venerated to a demi-god status by our cricket-addicted nation, after the Under-19 World Cup victory. He has also been in news for moving court when St. Stephen’s college, Delhi University barred him from giving his examinations due to low attendance. Finally, he has been promoted to second year and will be allowed to give his first year exams in the forthcoming semesters. While his major feat is credible, there are many students in Delhi University, who represent their colleges, University or nation in various sports and have to face similar challenges from authorities due to poor attendance.
“During my sports trials for getting admission to Delhi University, colleges like St. Stephen’s and SRCC indicated that there would not be much leniency for sportspersons. I finally chose Hindu because of this reason,” says Rajat Sindhu, a first year student at Hindu college, who plays lawn tennis for his college. Delhi University rules mandate a student to have at least 33.3 per cent attendance in an academic session after all exemptions.
“Prior to the semester system, our seniors didn’t face the brunt of losing out marks for attendance in internal assessment. But we lose out marks meant for attendance and this hampers our scores in the long term. I have to practice every morning without fail and as a result can’t attend my first class at all,” laments Tanvi Manchandaa, a second year student of B.Com (Hons) at Kirorimal College. She plays basketball for the college. Interestingly, while the students do get attendance if they are out on tournaments, practice sessions are not taken into account. As a result, most of them end up consistently being marked absent for certain classes.
Tanuj Kumar Thakur is in the first year of Ramjas College. He is a budding shooter, who is currently working hard to get selected for an international tournament in China. “For the last two weeks, I have not been able to attend college at all. My practice sessions go on from 10 in the morning to five in the evening. I know I will not get any attendence for these weeks. But I can’t help it. Only very few shooters will qualify for the tournament. I have to make it,” says Tanuj.