Chennai: Students and parents have raised concerns over the Chief Minister's Trophy sports competitions in Tamil Nadu, citing poor planning, irregularities, and rushed scheduling that undermine the purpose of the tournaments.

Organized annually by the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority, the competitions cover 67 sports for men and women at school, college, government employee, public, and differently-abled levels, with a total prize fund of Rs 37 crore.

Participants allege that online registration lacks clarity on competition schedules. For instance, tennis players were informed on the morning of the event that matches would be held in the afternoon, prompting hurried travel to venues. In volleyball, only a single 'set' was conducted instead of the standard two or three, while football matches lasted just ten minutes and cricket matches seven overs.

Physical education teachers highlighted the shortage of coordinators and limited venue usage, such as Nehru Sports Hall in Chennai, which forced competitions to be rushed and rules often ignored. Many students had to travel without teachers, raising safety concerns.

Parents and educators called for better planning and adequate resources to ensure competitions allow participants to showcase their skills properly rather than being held in name only.