The Sports Authority of India has requested the Central Board of Secondary Education to reschedule the class 12 exam dates of shooters Manu Bhaker and Vijayveer Sidhu to avoid a clash with the upcoming Asian Airgun Championships.
In a letter, the SAI has asked the CBSE to consider Manu and Vijayveer’s case and give fresh dates for two subjects, as both the shooters are scheduled to participate in the Asian Airgun Championship in Chinese Taipei from March 25 to April 2.
The initiative by SAI is part of ongoing efforts of the government to help young athletes balance their sporting career and academics.
The 16-year-old Manu, who is a part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), would have to appear for her history paper on March 25 and Physical Education exam on March 30, and both these dates are coinciding with the championships. Vijayveer, also 16, and who is in the watchlist of TOPS, too has to take his Psychology exam on March 29 and Physical Education on March 30.
SAI was approached by the parents of both athletes to intervene and request the CBSE authorities to allot fresh dates for these exams, so that the athletes could appear in the exams and also participate in the Championships. Following the request, Sports Authority of India, has written to Anita Karwal, Chairperson, CBSE, to allow both athletes to take the exams on fresh dates.
Following their request, SAI has written to CBSE chairperson Anita Karwal to allow both the shooters to take the exams on fresh dates.
Last year too, SAI had written to CBSE with a similar request for Anish Bhanwala, and he was allowed to take the Class X board exams after the event in which he was competing, got over.
SAI is hopeful that the CBSE Board will allot fresh exam dates to both these shooters, since it is important that they pursue their academics along with their promising sporting career.
