The Hindu : Sport : AP to have no `foreign' athlete

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 01, 2007
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Sport - Sports : General

AP to have no `foreign' athlete

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: In lieu with the State Government policy, no `foreign' athlete will represent Andhra Pradesh in the Guwahati National Games to be held from February 9 to 19, according to Lagadapati Rajagopal, MP and President of Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association.

Rajagopal informed media here on Wednesday that though he did not find fault with the `import policy' of the previous Government during the 2002 National Games which helped Andhra return with the highest ever medals-tally as he always felt athletes were national assets and their services could be sought by any State for its own welfare and better recognition, the APOA has decided to implement the State Government guidelines. "The current thinking is to let us assess for ourselves where exactly we stand on our own in Indian sport," he reminded.

"Consequently, the 446-strong contingent for the Guwahati Games will not have any athlete from outside the State," APOA chief remarked. "We have tried our best in co-ordination with the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh to ensure that the athletes are provided with the best of facilities in the preparatory camps with the hope that they would return with a rich haul of medals."

No entry in equestrian

Giving the break-up of the AP contingent for the Games, Rajagopal said that though the State qualified in 21 disciplines, there would be no entry in equestrian because of technical difficulties. "The entire contingent will visit Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy before it leaves for Guwahati. We will wait for any formal announcement of cash incentives for the would-be medallists from the State," he clarified to a query.

Rajagopal also said that for smooth co-ordination with the organisers, a representative from the APOA (B.K. Haranath, joint secretary) and the SAAP deputy director Md. Afsar Farooqui would be visiting Guwahati in advance in February to see that boarding and lodging is in place for the Andhra athletes. "There will also be a special medical team to take care of our athletes," he concluded.

Mounika wins title

K. Mounika won the sub-juniors girls' singles title defeating Kiranmayee 21-16, 21-18 in the final of the AIIE Dayakar Sastry tennikoit tournament here on Thursday.

The results (Sub-junior boys semifinals): S. Dinesh bt Sekhar 21-18, 21-16; Gowtham bt Jeevan 19-21, 21-10, 21-18; Girls' final: K. Mounika bt Kiranmayee 21-16, 21-18. Semifinals: K. Mounika bt Priyanka 21-12, 21-19; Kiranmayee bt Swetha 22-21, 21-19; Junior boys semifinals: N. Umesh bt Ritesh 21-19, 21-15; Venkatesh bt Siddarth 21-18, 16-21, 21-19; Girls' final: P. Sirisha bt N. Alekhya 21-15, 16-21, 21-17. Semifinals: N. Alekhya bt Anusha 21-11, 21-8; Sirisha bt Mounika 21-12, 21-18.