Request to modify orders of sports department to extend financial assistance to sportspersons

Rao expressed appreciation for the AP government’s new sports policy, under which Olympic gold medal winners are entitled to `7 crore. However, he mentioned that, to date, no advance payments have been made to players who have participated in the Olympics, World Universities, World Cup, World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and other international competitions. He lamented that athletes are spending substantial amounts of money to participate in international events, purchase equipment, and pay for foreign coaching.
Rao also pointed out that the previous government, from 2019 to 2024, failed to disburse `12 crore in cash incentives to sportspeople who won medals at international and national levels. He stated that athletes, sports enthusiasts, and associations are now urging the government to release the pending cash incentives. He appealed to Naidu to modify G.O. Rt 195/2022 to ensure that all eligible athletes across various sports disciplines receive equal and fair financial assistance from the Government of AP, which should cover the costs of equipment, apparel, travel allowances, coaching camp expenses, and engagement of foreign coaches both in India and abroad.