Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Plea to install permanent air-conditioning at indoor stadium

VIJAYAWADA: Efforts will be made to install air-conditioners on a permanent basis at the Dandamudi Rajagopal Rao Municipal Corporation indoor stadium which would help staging international tournaments in the future.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Kabaddi Premier League (KPL) championship on Thursday, KPL Chairman K.P. Rao asked the Member of Parliament L. Rajagopal to look into the proposal as both players and spectators faced severe hardship during the nine-day tournament. Much to the delight of everyone, Mr. Rajagopal said, “I will look into the proposal”.

Mr. Rao said that once air-conditioned, the indoor stadium will have all the prerequisites to host international indoor games such as table tennis, volleyball and basketball.

He said that KPL was staged in Vijayawada as it was this city which popularised the rural sport in the State. “I did not opt for any other city for staging KPL even though it was more viable financially. I preferred Vijayawada as this city gave a lot encouragement to the sport. I want Vijayawada to hit the international map in sports.”

Mr. Rajagopal said that with efforts of Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, India will enter the Olympics in 2020. “KPL has given a new lease of life to kabaddi and this format should be held every year,” he added.

International Kabaddi Federation president J.S. Gehlot appreciated Mr. K.P. Rao for staging the tournament successfully and felt that the future editions will be held in more places. “Just like Indian Premier League, matches will be held various places,” he said. Bharateeya Janata Party senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu, who attended the function as chief guest, said that even in “Mahabharata” there was a mention about “chadugudu” and history confirmed that Gautham Buddha played the rural sport in his youth. “Kabaddi should be promoted in a big manner and KPL is one such initiative which will help the game grow,” he felt.

Mr. Naidu said that Indians earlier were familiar with BPL (below poverty line). “But now we have IPL (India Premier League), which took the country by storm. I wish KPL to will also make waves.”

The spectators enjoyed an exhibition match between AKFI and KPL women teams which featured players who won the gold medal for India in the Guangzhou Games in 2010. AKFI led by Mamata Pujari emerged victorious.

Former MP Vadde Sobhanadeswara Rao, Andhra Kabaddi Association administrators and Krishna District Kabaddi Association members took part in the function.

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