Day after MiD DAY report, Yuva Sena and the institute pooled in Rs 10,000 each to fly the team to Kurukshetra venue on time

A day after MiD DAY reported that Mumbai University had decided not to send its archery teams to a national event in Haryana, the varsity officials yesterday permitted the debarred athletes to participate in the All India Inter-University Archery Competition in Kurukshetra.

The varsity officials had earlier denied the team permission to participate in the tourney citing that the archers were "ineligible". But the archery coaches and students cried foul over the decision and sought the Yuva Sena's intervention.

The party took up the matter with the varsity officials. The university and the party shared the team's expenses, pooling in Rs 10,000 each to ensure the four archers make it in time for the event, which starts today. The team was flown to Haryana yesterday.

Archery coach Subhash Nair said, "Like I said before, the 80 per cent score criteria was a farce. We fought because we knew we were right. I'm sure the boys will make us proud."

This is the second case in which the Sena's interference yielded positive results. Aaditya Thackeray, the head of the Yuva Sena, said, "I think it is a serious issue particularly when a prestigious university like the MU is negligent of its sports talents."

The university officials were not available for comment.