He said many players, particularly from remote areas, fail to attend selection trials due to distance and other constraints. “The number of players appearing in hostel trials is often low. Several top players miss the process despite strong performances,” Kohli said. Under the new system, a selection committee will evaluate players during state-level school competitions and prepare rankings based on their performances.
The Directorate of School Education currently operates 11 sports hostels that provide specialised training to students in basketball, football, hockey, badminton, volleyball, kabaddi and boxing.