Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh backed academy helped 40 weightlifters

Vizianagaram: Srikakulam’s Standard Academy, within the campus of the Kodi Rammorthy Stadium, was the only weightlifting centre in northern Andhra and it was shut down in 2010.

The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh-backed academy was previously credited for producing over 40 national-level lifters in just four years, including Olympian Karanam Malleswari.

“Whenever our village weightlifters win medals at national and international meets, politicians and officials come here to make empty promises. But these achievements of poor weightlifters are often ignored and many medal winners are now fighting poverty,” says M. Srinivas, from Kondavelagada.