Toppers pick differently

Chennai: Mechanical and computer engineering were the most sought after groups among the top 10 eminent sportspersons in this year’s engineering counselling, which took place on Sunday. According to Prof V. Rhymend Uthariaraj, secretary for Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission (TNEA), 1,000 students were invited for counselling and of the 500 seats, 385 were filled leaving 115 seats vacant. “The remaining candidates will be called for counselling at a later date,” he said.

Of the top 10, three students preferred computer science engineering, two each joined mechanical engineering & civil engineering, one each went to industrial engineering, electronics & communication engineering and architecture.The first ranker Aswin Abraham Zachariah opted for mechanical engineering at Anna University’s college of engineering, Guindy (CEG). Zachariah, a roller skating player says that he would like to represent India at the international level competitions.

“Mechanical engineering is not as tough as other branches, so it would provide me time to practise my sport,” the top ranker who studied class XII at SBOA matriculation higher secondary school, Chennai said. Akash PC.Iyer, the second ranker wanted to join mechanical in CEG but took industrial engineering as the seat had already been taken. “As Chess needs more time to practise and also I need to pursue education simultaneously I opted for industrial engineering as its not that hard to study this stream compared to other branches,” he said.