NEET re-exam score drop shatters international athlete’s medical dream

In short

Varun Solanki, an international softball player from Dewas, scored 350 in his first NEET exam and 178 in the re-examination this year.
The 172-mark drop in his re-examination score has jeopardised his hopes of securing an MBBS admission in Indore.
Solanki, 23, had prepared for NEET for four years, giving up softball to fulfil his late mother's wish for him to become a doctor.
The re-examination was conducted following reports of a paper leak, affecting candidates like Solanki.

Varun Solanki, a 23-year-old international softball player from Dewas, has seen his dream of becoming a doctor severely impacted after his NEET re-examination score dropped from 350 to 178. The significant reduction of 172 marks in the re-examination, conducted this year following reports of a paper leak, has left his medical college admission hopes uncertain.

Solanki’s journey into medicine began after his mother’s death during the Covid pandemic, prompting him to shift his focus from a promising softball career to fulfilling her wish for him to become a doctor. His story emerged at the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme organised in Indore, with his claims verified by a Dainik Bhaskar team.

From International Athlete to Medical Aspirant

Varun Solanki began playing softball at the age of 10 and represented India in Japan in 2022, where his team secured a bronze medal. His mother, a government teacher, had always envisioned him as a doctor, a desire possibly influenced by his father’s profession as a compounder. Solanki recalled his mother setting a condition during his Class 10 board examinations: he could continue playing softball only if he achieved good marks. He scored 86% in his Class 10 boards, after which his mother enrolled him in a coaching institute in Indore.

Following his mother’s passing during the Covid pandemic, Solanki made the decision to abandon his softball career to dedicate himself entirely to NEET preparation. He spent four years preparing for the examination, appearing for it four times in total, aiming to secure admission to an MBBS course in Indore under the ‘Meritorious Student Scheme’.

The Impact of the NEET Re-Examination

This year, Solanki had expected to score 350 marks in the initial NEET examination. However, a decision was made to conduct a re-examination due to widespread reports of a paper leak. The results of this re-examination proved to be a setback for Solanki, as his score plummeted to 178. This substantial drop of 172 marks has significantly altered his prospects for medical college admission.

The disparity in scores between the two examinations highlights the challenges faced by students amidst such administrative decisions. Solanki expressed his disappointment, stating, “My mother wanted me to become a doctor, but I wanted to build a career in softball. After she died during Covid, I decided to fulfil her wish, but NEET shattered my dream. I have been preparing for NEET for four years. I also gave up sport. Now I can neither become a doctor nor return to my sport.”

Examination	Score
First NEET	350
Re-examination	178

Family’s Perspective and Future Choices

Varun Solanki’s experience has also influenced his younger brother, Pranav, who is currently studying in Class 11. Witnessing his brother’s struggles and the perceived uncertainty in the medical path, Pranav has chosen the Commerce stream instead of medicine. Pranav commented on the situation, saying, “My brother prepared for this examination for so many years. I saw what happened to him despite all that hard work. There is too much uncertainty on this path.”

This decision by Pranav underscores a broader concern among some students and families regarding the stability and predictability of career paths in highly competitive fields like medicine, especially when examinations are subject to re-conduct due to irregularities.