Young India caught between exams and cricket

India Education
Young India caught between exams and cricket
By IANS, Mar 10, 2007 - 8:54:11 AM

New Delhi, March 10 - Class 12 and Class 10 board examinations couldn't have been timed better to play perfect spoilsport to the rising cricket World Cup fever in the country.

Be it the Central Board of Secondary Education - Class 10 and Class 12 exams, the state board exams or even the impending university exams, the young cricket fan brigade of India is caught between their career and their passion.

'I'm really disappointed. On the one hand I have my Class 12 exams and on the other there's the World Cup. I can't concentrate fully on either,' said Nipun Handa, a student of Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi, who confessed that he 'eats, drinks and sleeps cricket'.

Nipun's mother Anjali Handa said: 'We knew he would be upset. But there's nothing much that can be done. His exams will get over on April 10 and until then he can't give as much time to his first love as he would want to!'

Dhrupad Baruah, a Class 10 student at the Assam Valley School, Assam, is another 'disappointed' cricket fan.

'I try and sneak in to the drawing room where my younger brother watches TV. All those promos and cheerleading squads make me feel like joining in the fun but the very next thought of my next paper punctures my excitement,' he said.

Most of the Class 10 and 12 board exams, be it CBSE or any other board, began in the first week of March and will not be over until the first week of April.

Despite the disappointment, there are still others with their never-say-die spirit who won't let anything bog down their excitement.

After smoothly sailing through two of his CBSE Class 10 papers - Social Studies and Maths - Yuvraj Singh of Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, said: 'I'm not upset. My exams will be over on March 28. After that I can easily watch the second stage-super eight series matches. Until then, I will concentrate on my exams.'

Similarly, although the university exams are around the corner, most students have charted out their plan of action and are in no mood for disappointment.

Said Shashank Sharma, a second year graduation student of Delhi University: 'Although the examination date sheet is not yet declared, the exams generally begin by the second week of April.

'So I have chalked out my study time table keeping in mind the cricket matches. That way I won't miss the matches nor will I mess up my exams.'

Now that's what we call the true 'never-say-die' cricket spirit.

All rights reserved by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited ( www.rxpgnews.com )