National School Games Mallakhamb Championship U-19

The U-19 age group of the National School Games Mallakhamb championship is entered, played and medalled on its own. SGFI sets this group as Senior, for players below 19 years of age counted from 31 December of the competition year. A player must also be a bona fide regular student in Class 6 or above.

Entry is not something a family files. The SGFI affiliated unit of the state or union territory selects the squad through school, district and state level meets and submits the online entry. A player may enter a discipline through only one age group in a calendar year, so this group is a closed field of its own.

The championship is contested with boys competing on Pole Mallakhamb and girls on Rope Mallakhamb. The pole for this age group is taller and thicker, standing 2600 to 2800 mm above the ground with a total length of 3400 to 3700 mm, a 70 mm top and a bottom circumference of 530 to 550 mm. The girls rope is heavier too, 18 to 20 mm thick with a 350 mm top. Competitors perform their routines on the apparatus before a panel of judges, with at least ten metres between apparatus and only competitors and appointed officials allowed inside the competition area.

On arrival the unit hands over two sets of the eligibility papers, and age is verified at the team manager's meeting against the birth certificate and school record. A registration, certificate and identity card fee of Rs 130 per player is collected in cash at the venue. The organising committee provides accommodation, local transport and the technical arrangements, while travel to the venue and insurance for the delegation are the unit's responsibility.