Invite medal winners to varsity campuses: UGC to VCs

New Delhi, Dec 24: University students may soon be receiving tips from medal-winning sports persons about the reasons behind their success that would inspire them and help them build qualities like discipline and perseverance.

The University Grants Commission (UGC), pushing an idea floated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sent a communication to all Vice Chancellors, asking them to invite sports persons who have won medals in various events.

Such an interaction would help promote sports activities among students and inspire students to take part in sporting activities, feels UGC.

"Inviting medal winners to your campus to interact with students can have a significant impact in nurturing the culture of sports, the benefits of which are immeasurable," the communication said while citing an idea suggested by Modi while addressing the felicitation ceremony of the medal winners of the 17th Asian Games.

"Sports persons are loved by one and all, and elite sports persons are looked upon as peers and role models and whom they try to emulate in their daily activities," the communication to the VC said.

Indulging in sporting activities not only help students to keep their body fit and healthy but also helps them to focus their mind and teach them the art of handling pressure, it said.

"It is an activity where only talent emerges as the winner and as such it inculcates discipline, perseverance, and the spirit of competition among them," the communication said.

PTI