Games over,it is game over for rugby too

Despite all other Commonwealth Games stadia opening its doors to public,the Rugby 7s competition venue at the Delhi University ground has never witnessed the metal locks lifted off its gates since the 2010 Games. The sole proprietorship of the ground lies with the DU Vice Chancellor and its present incumbent,Dinesh Singh,says a new sports council has been appointed and it is striving to make the area functional in 10-15 days.

Interestingly,rugby doesn’t figure in their plans as the VC feels that promoting that sport is not of any utility to them. “Who plays rugby in India? I would rather have students use the ground for things that happen in our country like cricket or hockey. We will just be forcing it (on students) if we introduce rugby because no one plays it. There is as such no cricket ground nearby accessible to students so that is a better option,” Singh told Newsline,while admitting that the ground in its present state isn’t feasible for cricket as well. “Because of some bad planning,the playing field is surrounded by glass structures. Just one cricket shot,and all those can come shattering down. There are some permanent stands in the arena and the grass is of a peculiar variety,” Singh said of the bermuda princess-77 grass that is the preferred variety for golf courses. “But we are confident of working a way out.”

The VC’s decision to veto rugby out of the venue hasn’t gone down well with the federation. “He has sole authority,it’s his prerogative to decide. We would have been happy if it was given for rugby training and had approached the VC earlier about it. But I think even when it was in the planning stage,the idea was always to use it as a cricket ground because of its commercial benefits,” Aga Hussain,Indian Rugby Football Union vice president,said.

The unkempt condition that the ground is in,it looks less likely that that the sports council will be able to deliver results in the fortnight deadline but Singh says it was more important to get the right people behind it. “It could get delayed but the idea was to find good people to do the job. Everyone had retired in the earlier sports council,now Professor C S Dubey is the chairman and three full-time people are dedicated to get it started. I have given a free hand to them. In the meantime,we have another ground where all athletic events for colleges take place,” Singh added.