Incidentally. PU is one of the leading universities in the field of sports, which has won the prestigious Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Trophy for excellence in sports at the All India Inter-University level, several times in the past.

Though the PU officials claimed that it is only the participation which had dwindled as compared to last edition of the meet, but sounded optimistic about the overall standard. ``There were two new meet records and one meet mark was equalled,'' said Kewal Singh, Director in-charge of the Punjab University Sports Department. The director in-charge, however, agreed that the participation had taken a dip down wards: ``This year the number of athletes was very less''.

But the two meet records came in the men's section while in the women's group barring a few events most of the contests lacked keen competition.

Alarmed at the dwindled participation, the Punjab University Sports Committee (PUSC) in its executive committee meeting, held recently took a decision to make it mandatory for all affiliated colleges to send in their entry for the athletic meet. Though some of the colleges did send their entry but the athletes did not turn up at the venue. ``We can only guide the head of the institutions but we cannot take action against them for not participating,'' said Kewal Singh.

The main reason behind the scenario is not known to many. Some are putting the blame on the officials at the helm of affairs for changing the rules too frequently. ``Most of the athletes here are not students, they are professional in the field. They take admission in the colleges only to participate and not study. That is why the genuine players do to surface,'' points out Ram Murti, lecturer in physical education of AS College, Khanna.

Most of the colleges, in order to win the overall championship, allure potential athletes, who hardly attend classes, which mars the chances of others. Amarjeet Kaur, who got the best athlete award this year, represented Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana in the previous edition of the PU athletic meet, while this year she was enrolled as a student of Ramgarhia Girls College, Ludhiana. Incidentally, she has not been able to clear her plus two examinations.

Amarjeet is the not the lone athlete to be trapped. Majority of the medal winners in both the men's and women's divisions also fall in the same category. ``The Association of All India Universities (AIU) should frame stricter rules to combat this menace,'' Ram Murti added.

The new AIU rule, which is a amendment of the previous, stated that an athlete can take part four times in the All India Inter-University meet from the date of his admission, irrespective of his class. Whereas, earlier, the rule said `a player can represent the same class only twice in Inter-Varsity meet', which automatically gave room to new breed of athletes.

``This time during the AIU sport boards meeting, we would raise this question and request them to amend the rule again,'' said the director in-charge.