The Hindu : Sport : AP Sports School may get new infrastructure soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 08, 2004

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

AP Sports School may get new infrastructure soon

By V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, JUNE 7. The Andhra Pradesh Sports School (Hakimpet), situated about 20 kilometres from the City is the first of its kind in the country. It will, in all probability, wear a new look if the proposals for creating infrastructure at a cost of Rs.7 crores are implemented without further delay.

According to officials, the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has sanctioned Rs. 3.5 crores for setting up of a State-level Training Centre under the Sports Authority of India scheme and has already released Rs.1 crore as part payment more than a year ago.

Now, the onus is on the State Government, or with the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh, to release a matching grant to see that the plans — an eight-lane, 400m track, two indoor stadia of 45 x 25 x 12.5m, a swimming pool (50 x 21 m), multi-gym hall, 150 hostel beds, quarters for coaches, renovation of the existing football, hockey grounds and setting up of a sports medicine centre besides laying internal roads — are executed.

For one reason or the other, the focus had never been on infrastructure, even on improving the existing facilities leave alone creating new ones, for more than 12 years now.

Consequently, the school, administrative block and the hostels continue to be in the make-shift buildings.

Officials point out that since there was never a guarantee of making Hakimpet the permanent destination for the school and fears of it being shifted proved to be a constant source of discouragement for any promotional activity. However, with great difficulty, it was seen that the 185 students (from fourth standard to Intermediate) did not suffer for want of any support in promoting their cause on the educational and sporting fronts.

It's now confirmed that the school will not be shifted to Gachibowli as feared last year. It is also not prudent to forego 200 acres of land exclusively allotted for the School and opt for a 20-acre site at Gachibowli. It is now widely accepted that long-term investment could well bring the desired results.

K. Narsaiah, Special Officer, wants to ensure wider coverage for the students, and include sepak tekraw, hockey (girls) and archery, to the existing athletics, weightlifting, football and gymnastics disciplines.

The officials feel that the concept of hiring private teachers or having them on deputation will not serve purpose in a residential school. The minimum that is expected is to see at least the services of 11 teachers and 10 coaches are regularised to provide them right motivation for better results.

Significantly, what's keeping the interest of the top brass of sports administration alive is the pretty decent performances from the school students like weightlifter P. Haritha and athlete Bangaraiah (now in Indian junior camps). For the record, two most outstanding products of the school are Athens Games qualifier S. Geetha and P.Shankar (Federation Cup record holder in 400m).

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