MP Kesineni Srinivas and three MLAs — Vallabhaneni Vamsi Krishna (Gannavaram), Bode Prasad (Penamaluru) and Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao (Central) — on Sunday inaugurated the refurbished playfields at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium for the 30 Reliance Jio National Junior Athletic Championship, which kick-starts on November 26.
The quartet inspected the newly-laid track and playfields such as high and long jump pits, enclosures of shot put, hammer, discuss and javelin.
The organisers also displayed Rs. 10 lakh worth of sports equipment purchased by the new government for the meet held for under-14, 16, 18 and 20 age groups, both boys and girls.
The technical committee, to test the newly-laid mud track allowed the athletes to run with their spikes on, to assess the firmness. “We will water the track for next few days to help gain speed. We will also use a light roller to get the track ready for the five-day event,” said Sports Authority of India athletic coach D.N.V. Vinayak Prasad.
He said the meet assumes significance to Andhra Pradesh as a huge 162-member contingent of the new State will lock horns with the best of athletes who would come from all parts of the country. “Kerala, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Punjab contingents are all set to dominate the proceedings,” said Athletic Federation of India Technical Committee member Ratnavel from Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh Athletic Association secretary A.V. Raghavendra said that despite no proper infrastructure in the 13 districts, the youngsters performed well to earn their place for the national meet. “It is a good experience for the youngsters to emerge as quality athletes in the future”. He also said the Indian teams to represent junior Asia and junior Commonwealth meets next year will be selected in the meet.
