Booster dose for Telangana State sport

Hyderabad: It’s been one-and-a-half years since he took over as Sports Authority of Telangana State chairman but Allipuram Venkateshwar Reddy continues to maintain the enthusiasm of a new inductee.

At the helm of sports affairs in the State, he has been actively pushing for reforms, development and an enhanced budget for sports.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he sought to showcase some projects he has been spearheading. “Very soon there will be four new synthetic tracks (for athletics) in Telangana,” he announced, adding “The government has given the go-ahead. The tracks will come up at Karimnagar, Medak, Warangal and Osmania University in Hyderabad. Another one has been proposed at the Sports School in Hakimpet. Once that is done, Telangana will have six athletics tracks — including the one at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad.”

Efforts are also on to renovate the run down Lal Bahadur Stadium with the help of some Corporates, Mr Reddy said, adding funds would also be mobilised via Corporate Social Responsibility to develop sports in the State.

Next on the list is 2% reservation in State government jobs for sportspersons and transfer of 0.75% of excise cess to SATS that will boost the budget. “The file is with the Chief Minister and could be cleared any time,” Mr Reddy said.
Incidentally, State sports minister T. Padma Rao Goud also holds the Excise and Prohibition portfolio.

Mr Reddy informed SATS was providing a stipend of Rs 10,000 to 30 outstanding players and had plans to start academies for athletics, boxing and gymnastics.
With regard to regularisation of coaches, a letter has been written to the government. Also, notification to absorb 200 coaches will be out soon, Mr Reddy said. In the same breath, he mentioned the sanction of Rs 27 lakh to Brij Kishore, ailing coach of Budda Aruna Reddy who became the first Indian to win a medal at the Gymnastics World Cup in Australia last month. Aruna was awarded '2 crore by the State for her achievement as well.

Mr Reddy also said SATS would disburse Rs 1 lakh to each of the 31 districts for the conduct of summer coaching camps that are scheduled to run from April 15 to May 31.

Mr Reddy said plans are also on to construct an indoor stadium on his mother’s name (Allipuram Indiramma) at his native village of Allipuram in Chinna Chinta Kunta mandal of Mahbubnagar district. “The government has sanctioned Rs 1.30 crore for the same,” he said.