The Olympics of B-Schools: IMT Ghaziabad’s Chakravyuh is ready to roll

Termed “the Olympics of B-Schools” by Indian Sports News, Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad’s three-day sporting extravaganza- Chakravyuh is ready to roll in February.

The 72 hours of non-stop action featuring teams from India’s premiere B-Schools kicks-off February 10 running through February 12 and this year the teams won’t just be thrilling spectators - they’ll be giving hope to children across the country.

Since it began more than 19 years ago, Chakravyuh has grown by leaps and bounds. The 2012 edition will see teams competing in football, basketball, volleyball, throw ball, cricket, badminton, table tennis, tennis and paintball.

For the gamblers in the crowd there will be an online betting station. Gamblers will be using virtual money, but when the 72-hour marathon comes to end, the person with the highest points total will take home a prize worth all the bets.All this action will be capped by an evening of music and dancing at Chakravyuh 2012’s DJ party.

Chakravyuh encompasses the very spirit of IMT-Ghaziabad. It stands for pride, honour, patience, perseverance, stamina, will-power and above all sportsmanship, qualities essential for coming out a winner on the field and in life.

Chakravyuh gets its name from the roots of Indian history symbolizing competition and bravery.

It isn’t just any sports event, it ‘s 72 hours of non-stop action, unconfined boldness, indomitable spirit, grand organization and a hunger for competition.

With a war-like atmosphere at times, it also features off-the-field events testing your sporting knowledge and DJ evenings where you can rock the night away in a festive atmosphere. It remains the ultimate test of an athlete’s skill, stamina, passion, strength, agility and the ability to endure pressure and come out victorious.

Chakravyuh’s basic premise is simple - form a team of 25 players accommodating all sports, with your aim on the overall trophy based on a points system. While it seems simple and straight-forward, the strategy going into the formation of a team requires a Herculean managerial effort usually beginning five or six months in advance.

With the formation of cartels, players jumping ship between rivals and using marketing concepts to sell your team, Chakravyuh is an athletic marathon that contains all the elements of the ruthless competition seen in the business world.

It’s a nationwide mega event, with teams not just from IMT Ghaziabad, but from B-Schools across the county such as IIM Bangalore, IIM Lucknow, SP JAIN, FMS, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, University of Goa, University of Pune, Punjab University of Chandigarh and several other top B-schools in India. It also welcomes teams composed of IMT Ghaziabad alumni .

Such an exhibition draws the media, with national dailies such as Dainik Jagran and Amar Ujaala and FM channels like Red FM 94.3 flocking to cover the event - and of course crowds of spectators in the 1,500 to 1,700 range.

But above all the feats of derring-do, cut-throat competition and rocking nights, Chakravyuh and its organizers and sponsors are also looking to give back to society.

For the first time in the history of any sporting event, Chakravyuh XII has taken on the role of changing society and is seeking co-operation to aid the millions of under-privileged children by: conducting sports-related events for schools without the amenities; distributing bicycles, skates and other sports-related equipment; providing sportswear such as T-shirts, caps and shoes along with providing other essentials such books, calculators and stationery.

Athletes playing their hearts out at an event which truly has a heart - Chakravyuh is not to be missed.