Punjab News Express/SK.Vyas
JALANDHAR: Five-Day All India Inter-University ‘Drop Roball’ Championship (2018-19) concluded, today, at newly built ‘Shanti Devi Mittal Indoor Sports Complex’ of Lovely Professional University (LPU). Meant for international level multi-games, the vast sports complex witnessed LPU grabbing both ‘Men & Women’ Runners-Up Championship Trophies. Excelling others, LPU Men teams won 1st runner up trophy; whereas, women won 2nd runner up trophy. MDU Rohtak won Overall Winners’ trophies in both the categories; whereas, Kumaun University Nainital won 1st Runner Up trophy in women category.
Different matches were played under categories of Single Boys; Single Girls; Mix Double; Double Boys; Double Girls; Triple Girls; Triple Boys and Super Event. In all 48 Gold, 48 Silver and 64 Bronze Medals were awarded to 160 players of different participating teams. LPU men won Gold medals in Triples’ Matches, Silver in Doubles’ and Bronze medals in Singles’ matches; whereas, LPU women won Silver medals in Super Event and Bronze medals in both Singles’ and Doubles’ matches. In women category, MDU Rohtak declared first with 15 points; Kumaon University Nainital second by earning 11 points; and, LPU at third place with 5 points. Similarly, in men category, MDU Rohtak declared first with 13 points; LPU second by earning 9 points; and, Kumaon University Nainital at third place with 4 points.
The Championship was organized under the aegis of Association of Indian Universities (Inter University Sports Board) and Drop Roball Federation India (DRFI), where LPU Director General Er HR Singla declared the Championship closed. Prior to this, Er Singla honoured the winners and advised all the participants to ever continue with the passion of playing. Quoting the 107 years’ old Marathon Runner Fauja Singh, he inspired all sportsmen-women by sharing that true players neither retire nor admit defeat. He was accompanied by the founder of modern ‘Drop Roball’ game, Mr Ishwar Singh (Founder General Secretary of Drop Roball Federation India), Director of Sports at LPU Dr V Kaul; AIU Observer Dr Nagendra Sharma (Sports Officer at Kumaun University Nainital); General Secretary of DRFI Ms Lata Sharma; and, many other officials, coaches and referees of national and international repute.
In fact, with its rich history and growing international popularity, Drop Roball is one of the most progressive and popular game. The game is easy to play with minimal cost, and can be played in villages or towns by the poor as well as the rich.The court of Drop Roball surface is made hard, which is divided by the net into two parts. When a player starts the game, he/she drops the ball on the ground, ball jumps, and he/she hits the ball with palm in opposite side of the court. The oldest traditional game of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan; ‘Drop Roball’ is registered with Ministry of Human Resources Development (Government of India).