The Hindu : Sport : Chief Minister's Cup to be held in Jan 2006

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Friday, Oct 21, 2005

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Sport - Sports : General

Chief Minister's Cup to be held in Jan 2006

Sports Reporter

HYDERABAD: The Government will host the Chief Minister's Cup for boys and girls (under-19) in Hyderabad in January 2006. This was disclosed by Mr. M. Satyanarayana Rao, Minister for Sports, Culture and Cinematography, here on Thursday.

Speaking to the media after releasing a 68-page calendar of events for the next 12 months brought out by the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Rao said that competitions would be held in 14 disciplines and the event will cost about Rs.1.75 crores.

"To avoid the meet turning into a sort of a mela, we have decided to restrict the event to only under-19 players," he clarified.

Budget enhanced

The Minister also informed that the budget for SAAP, the governing body of sports in the State, was increased by Rs. 15 crores compared to last year. Listing out the plan of action for the next one year, Mr. Rao said that Rs.2.75 crores would be spent for Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex in Vizianagaram and Rs. 2.50 crores each for two more complexes in Nandyal and Nizamabad.

He also said that new projects for sports development and promotion worth Rs. 28 crores would be initiated soon in 13 districts. In a significant development, the Government had decided to enhance financial grant to Rs. 2.20 crores for all District Sports Authorities and allocate Rs. 1.25 crores for the existing SAAP Academies.

"We felt it was time to focus on infrastructure development in rural areas and hence Rs. 9.52 crores would be spent in the coming year for this target," Mr. Rao said.

The Government will strengthen the concept of Academies by adding to the existing 23, to tap talent in rural areas. The new Academies will be weightlifting (Srikakulam), badminton (Khammam), football (Hyderabad), hockey (Pulivendla and Nalgonda), athletics, basketball and water sports (all in Karimnagar).

Regional Sports School

Besides these, the Minister said that a Regional Sports School would be set up in Kadapa costing Rs. 4.25 crores and the Centre of Excellence in volleyball in Hyderabad.

"Over the next 12 months efforts will be made to introduce basketball, football, athletics and gymnastics in this CoE," he added.

The Minister also presented cash incentives of Rs. 2 lakhs to B. Prameelavalli, gold medallist in Commonwealth weightlifting championship, and Rs. 1 lakh to P. Satish Rai, winner of silver in the same meet. Pujari Sailaja was also given Rs. 2.25 lakhs for winning gold in Commonwealth and silver in the Asian senior championship recently.

Ms. Chitra Ramachandran, Secretary, Youth Advancement & Tourism, Mr. G. Kamala

Vardhana Rao, SAAP VC & MD, and Mr. M.S. Raj Thakur, chairman of SAAP, were also present.

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