Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau

Chandigarh University celebrates historic win as MAKA Trophy arrives on campus; View Pics  

MAKA Trophy reaches Chandigarh University, sparks grand festivities in CU Campus celebrating record-breaking sporting achievement

Babushahi Bureau

Mohali (Punjab), January 20, 2025 –  Celebrations were in the air as the coveted Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy reached the Chandigarh University (CU) campus with students, faculty and staff members giving a heroic welcome to CU athletes who made the university first ever private university as well as the youngest university to win the prestigious MAKA trophy by winning 71 medals, including 32 gold, 18 silver and 21 bronze medals, during Khelo India University Games 2024.  

In a glittering ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Friday, Chandigarh University’s Senior Managing Director Deep Inder Singh Sandhu and Dr Devinder Singh, Pro Vice Chancellor received the prestigious MAKA Trophy from President Droupadi Murmu during the presentation of the National Sports Award, 2024.

Apart from this, Sanjay, a BA student of Chandigarh University and an international hockey player, was honoured with the Arjuna Award on the occasion.

The MAKA trophy was warmly received by players, coaches, sports department of the university and other university officials in the university campus from Deep Inder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director who brought the prestigious trophy to the CM campus from New Delhi.

The arrival of MAKA Trophy in the campus was welcomed with fireworks and drumbeats during the victory march as the decorated open vehicle carrying the Trophy rolled into the campus amid playing of patriotic songs. Students waived the Indian Tricolor during the march attended by 28 eminent sportspersons including eight medalists of Khelo India University Games 2024.

These included Gold Medalist in Shortput, Sawan, Gold Medalist in Rowing, Harvinder Singh Cheema, Silver Medalist in Shortput, Varinderpal Singh, Silver Medalist in Table Tennis, Kashvi Gupta, Bronze Medalist in Rowing, Isha Maurya, Bronze Medalist in Hockey, Inderpal Singh and Bronze Medalist in Hocley, Ramanpreet Singh.

 The students and staff members of the Chandigarh University cheered with great enthusiasm as the MAKA Trophy was paraded on an open vehicle alongside accomplished CU’s players from national and international sports events.  The air was filled with excitement as student-athletes and coaches celebrated their joy by joining CU students in performing vibrant bhangra dances to the rhythmic beats of the drums.

This is the first time in the history of MAKA Trophy that any private university has lifted the prestigious trophy ever since it was instituted in the year 1956-57. CU, established in 2021, has also become the youngest university to achieve this feat. Chandigarh University has been honored with the MAKA trophy because of its excellence performance shown in Khelo India University games 2024.

Congratulating students and staff members on winning MAKA trophy, Chandigarh University Chancellor and Member Parliament, Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “It’s an honor to become the first private and youngest university to win the prestigious MAKA Trophy. Chandigarh University is committed to train and prepare the next generation of athletes for India in line with PM Modi’s vision to promote sports and support sportspersons on a mission mode with his unique schemes and programmes like the ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme’ (TOPS).  India is set to become one among the top 10 performing countries in the world in the field of sports because of the priority given by the government under the leadership of PM Modi to develop a world class sports ecosystem. Reforms undertaken by the Union government and the support programmes provided to the athletes in the last 10 years are the key reason for the successes the country has recorded in international sporting events such as the Tokyo Olympics, Asian Games, and Paralympics,”.

“Khelo India Games have become a breeding ground for India's next Olympic medal winners since its launch in 2018. One of the most notable achievements of Khelo India has been the identification and nurturing of young talent. One of the most notable achievements of Khelo India has been the identification and nurturing of young talent.The ripple effect of Khelo India extends beyond just creating a pool of athletes. It has sparked a sporting revolution at the grassroots level, encouraging participation and fostering a culture of sports and fitness among India’s youth,” he added.

Expressing happiness over this unprecedented achievement of Chandigarh University, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University, Deep Inder Singh Sandhu said, "It is a moment of immense pride for us that Chandigarh University has not only received the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy but has also become the first private university to do so in the history of MAKA Trophy. Chandigarh University has created new records by performing excellently in sports. Chandigarh University is committed to promote sports and nurture talent which is evident from 71 medals won by CU students in Khelo India University Games and 10 medals in the 19th Asian Games. This apart, Chandigarh University has won 113 national and 21 international medals".

“Besides highest representation of 22 players in the Indian contingent of 653 players to Asian Games during which CU students won eight Gold and 2 Bronze medals, eight students of CU represented India in Paris Olympics and 3 in Paralympics 2024.

Chandigarh University is giving full support to sportspersons in the form of scholarships, professional training, state of the art sports infrastructure for the budding sportspersons.

Currently 1,183 are availing an annual scholarship of RS 8.5 Crore including Major Dhyan Chand Scholarships worth Rs. 3.84 crores,” he added.

Expressing his happiness on this occasion and thanking the university, Sawan, a university player and gold medalist in short put at the Khelo India Games 2024, said, "Chandigarh University has become the first private university in the country to win the MAKA Trophy. This milestone reflects the excellence and commitment of the university towards sports. Chandigarh University is providing full support to players like me in the form of scholarships, professional training and state-of-the-art infrastructure. I am proud to be a student of Chandigarh University.

Chandigarh University has always instilled a sense of patriotism in me and I want to bring glory to the country through my sports and bring my country in the list of top countries in sports,".

Another Chandigarh University student, Kashvi Gupta, who won silver medal in table tennis at the Khelo India Games 2024, said, "I am proud to be a student of Chandigarh University. Winning the MAKA Trophy is a great achievement. Due to the financial assistance provided by Chandigarh University through scholarships, all of us not only work hard without worries but are also motivated to bring glory to the country. All the credit for our victory and the MAKA Trophy goes to the administration of Chandigarh University,”.

Ramanpreet Singh, a CU player and bronze medalist in hockey at Khelo India Games 2024, said, "Chandigarh University is our home and the MAKA has come to our home. Our university is the first private university in the country to achieve this status. We feel proud of this. The university provides us with all kinds of support through scholarships. Our gurus who are present for our training always increase our enthusiasm and this is the reason why we always try to do well in our sport. I will continue to give my best sports performance to bring glory to the name of the country and the name of the university."