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Sports school set for a new look
V. V. SUBRAHMANYAM
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The new complex will have a swimming pool, indoor stadium, gym and a golf course
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FOCUSED EFFORT K. Narsaiah (left), Special Officer takes personal interest in the Andhra Pradesh Sports School's project
Come next summer, the sprawling Andhra Pradesh Sports School (APSS) will be functioning from a grand new double-storied complex. The work for the building that will cost Rs.7 crore has been started.
The school, which started in 1993 with the specific objective of combining academics and promoting sporting excellence, has been confined to makeshift arrangements for the last 13 years despite an annual budget allocation of Rs.1 crore.
However, things have now brightened up with Special Officer of APSS, K. Narsaiah, taking personal interest by holding back the savings from the annual budget for the last four years with the sole objective of grounding the much-delayed project of having its own complex.
With APIIC, which is also the executive agency, providing the administrative sanction for the complex, the entire structure is coming up on a total plinth area of 60,354 square feet.
It will have 34 rooms for 102 girl students on one wing and another 40 rooms on the other wing for 120 boys, besides accommodation for stores, wardens and guests.
Numerous complaints that the premises did not look like a school, but like a thatched cottages in a bad shape, came up during the on-going selections for admissions this academic year.
Even the technical advisor to State government, Prof Chinappa Reddy, was surprised by the comments but was pleased when taken around the site for inspection of the the proposed complex.
The focus is not just on classrooms and boarding facilities, but also on creating new infrastructure for the school that has the proud distinction of producing an Asian Games gold medallist, athlete Sathi Geetha and ATF silver medallist P. Shankar, besides some very good weightlifters like P. Haritha and many powerlifters.
Once completed, the school near Hakimpet is bound to be a hit, not just with the students but also with the various associations, for the serenity that the venue provides.
"It will not be a bad idea to try and conduct some of the state camps for seniors here, which should also do good to the young athletes from the school," says L. Venkatram Reddy, secretary of the AP Olympic Association.
For his part, Narsaiah believes that the new facilities like swimming pool, full-fledged indoor stadium and a complete gym will be in place within the next one year.
A high-level delegation led by Chief Secretary to state government inspected the 206-acre School site and even suggested laying an 18-hole international standard golf course by earmarking about 50 acres exclusively for it.
"Well, we don't mind this development, for the students will have the privilege of seeing top golfers in action and who knows, may be some of them might end up becoming big-time golfers inspired by the lush greens once the course is completed," explains Narsaiah.
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