Divided spirit and loyalties marked the event when the IOA-recognised Olympic Association of Telangana and the rival group - Telangana Olympic Association held the first edition of the Olympic Day Run in Telangana State separately with the valedictory function held at a striking distance on the premises of the Lal Bahadur Stadium here on Tuesday.
Telangana Sports Minister K. Padma Rao preferred the easy way out of the murky politics by skipping the event. But to the delight of OAT, there was an official stamp of approval to its event at Fateh Maidan Indoor Stadium, thanks to the presence of the B.V. Papa Rao, TS Advisor (sports), and Sports Authority of Telangana VC & MD A. Dinakar Babu.
Olympian Zulfiqar Ali (football), badminton coach S.M. Arif, Olympian N. Mukesh Kumar (hockey), Arjuna Awardees G. Mulini Reddy, Mir Khasim Ali and Dennis Swamy, were present. Mr. Papa Rao handed over IOC certificates to the participants and promised to start a Telangana Sports Academy for the benefit of talented sportspersons from the under-privileged sections.
Rival group TOA and its president A.P. Jitender Reddy, also an MP, also held another function and asserted they were the ‘original body’ representing TSOA. “Whatever has been happening is not good for the sport but we can’t be faulted. A couple of ambitious persons are creating all the problems,” he charged.
He also felicitated sportspersons like Arjuna Awardee Neetha Dadwe, former India Olympics goalkeeper Edwards Alloysius, coach Ismail Baig (rowing), etc. “We would have loved to have a common function especially when the TS Government is taking all the initiatives to help sportspersons,” was the common refrain of the assembled sportspersons.
