Mini-Olympiads to tap rural sports talent

The general body meeting of Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association (APOA), on Sunday, decided to conduct ‘Mini-Olympiads’ in all the district headquarters to identify and nurture sports talent. Top performers in the Mini-Olympiads will be eligible to take part in the Chief Minister’s Cup, a state-level tournament.

Addressing a press conference after the general body meeting, APOA general secretary, JC Pavan Reddy said the initiative was meant to tap the rural sports talent. “The bifurcation caused a great loss to the residual Andhra Pradesh on sports front. Telangana got the right over all the major sports infrastructure located in Hyderabad.

It also retained many top sportspersons of undivided AP. Hence, the APOA decided to lay emphasis on development of sports infrastructure and churning out of top sportspersons. It was the right time to identify the rural talent and train the players as thorough professionals to put Andhra Pradesh on top in sports in the country,” he said.

The APOA general secretary further said physical education teachers would be involved in a big way in promotion of sports in the state. Sportspersons hailing from poor families would be provided financial assistance to enable them to take advanced coaching. Medal winners in national and international level sports meet would be suitably rewarded.

“A committee would be set up soon to study the sports infrastructure in each district of the state. Based on the committee report, steps would be taken to develop sports infrastructure in all the 13 districts of the State.

The APOA would make a bid to hold Asian Canoeing and Kayaking Championship in the Krishna River in Vijayawada in 2016,” he said. APOA vice-presidents YD Rama Rao and Niranjan Reddy, associate vice-president M Ramalinga Reddy and treasurer KP Rao were also present at the news conference.