In a classic gaffe, the winner of the recently concluded North Zone Inter-University Handball Championship for Women was selected through sortition, a clear mockery of the system, ostensibly to ‘benefit players’.
After the participating teams allegedly refused to play against Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara and officials also declined to conduct those matches, the organisers resorted to a ‘lottery system’. They claimed it was the only way to spare the players further distress.
Notably, LPU was declared the winner, with Sardar Patel University, Mandi, in second place; Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, third; and Punjabi University, Patiala, fourth. All four teams have now qualified for the All India Inter-University Handball Championship for Women based on this lucky draw.
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) allotted the event to Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, which in turn delegated it to Lala Jagat Narain Himotkarsh Government Girls Degree College, Kotla Khrud, Una.
“LPU players were involved in some misbehaviour. The issue arose before their quarter-final match against Panjab University,” alleged Dr Onkar Singh, the organising secretary. He added: ‘The other teams that had qualified for the league stage refused to play against LPU, and even the officials refused to supervise those matches. To avoid harming the players’ futures (bachon ko nuksan na ho), we asked all teams’ officials to decide the tournament’s fate. They agreed to select the top four via slips (lottery). On the evening of 11 March, the positions were declared and these teams qualified for the All India edition.”
When asked if a report had been submitted to the AIU, Singh said: “We are preparing it now.” He added: “One team started questioning the referees without playing a single match.” During the championship, LPU demanded referee changes for their match against Panjab University. They raised an objection in front of the Una DC and videos of the incident went viral on social media. LPU won the match, prompting Panjab University to protest against one of LPU’s players.
“The organisers requested the participating team officials to decide on lottery after officials refused to conduct of our matches,” said Chandan Singh, coach LPU team.
“I’m not sure if these rules are current, but declaring a winner by lottery is unjustifiable,” said a furious coach.
