Chennai: The arbitrary decision of the state school education department to postpone Republic Day Games and Bharatiyar Day Games has hit students hard, as the new dates are clashing with their examinations. Many participants fear that their schools might not encourage them to take part in the state level meets to be conducted in three venues, Erode, Villupuram and Nagapattinam because academics is more important than sports for teachers.
It is not the first time the school education department has tinkered with dates of the two important competitions, students said. “Changing dates is a routine affair for the department, which doesn’t care about the hardship we face. It’s difficult for us to focus on sports competitions when they are closely followed by examinations and some of us are in tenth and plus two,” the athletes practising boxing, judo and taekwondo at Nehru Stadium told DC.
“The school education department takes the state level competitions for granted. There are at least 200 to 400 athletes now affected because of the October 11, 2017, circular issued by school education director Elangovan”, said a state government coach wishing not to be quoted.
“To be a sportsman it is very difficult and a swimmer needs six to eight hours of training ahead of state level competitions, but when the competition dates are changed it’s a nightmare for athletes and their preparations,” rued a swimming coach. Remember these are students who have to excel both in sports and in board examinations. The last minute circular and venue of swimming events in rural places had affected the athlete morale. This is heights of callousness and failure to understand the pain of students and the contribution of parents in developing young athletes, he added. School education director Elangovan who issued the order was not available for comments.
