Fourth year in a row, Punjabi University of Patiala has won the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy for the year 2014, to be eighth time adjudged country’s best overall University in games. Punjabi University vice-chancellor Jaspal Singh will collect the award from President Pranab Mukherjee on August 29, on the occasion of National Sports Day.
The award was announced by the Association of Indian Universities by releasing the names and points of top nine universities in sports in India. While Punjabi University has topped the list with 71,840 points, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar held the second spot with 65,170 points and Delhi University took the third spot with 31,770 points.
Journey of the Institution:
Punjabi University is a higher education institute located in Patiala, Punjab and was established on 30th April 1962. It is only the second university in the world to be named after a language, after Hebrew University of Israel.
Four years ago, it started its grand run by ending the winning streak of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, which has won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad trophy a record 22 times but this year was left 6,670 points behind in the race to finish as runners-up.
About the Award:
- The Trophy is given annually to the university or institutions in India for their all-round performance in Inter-University Tournaments.
- It was started in 1956.
- It was established by Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in the memory of scholar and a senior political leader Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
- The winner receives, a replica of the Trophy and a cash award of 10,00,000/- which is to be utilized for acquiring sports equipments.