Nellore to host 2019 National Games

Created On: 24 Dec 2015 5:36 AM IST

Nellore will enter Indian sports folklore in 2019 when it hosts the 37th National Games, the symbol of domestic supremacy in the country. According to Bandaru Hanumanth Rao, Director of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP), they were overjoyed when news trickled in from Guwahati, where the AGM of Indian Olympic Association is underway, about Andhra Pradesh being allotted the 2019 edition. Nellore has been decided the venue by the State administrators. It will mark another sports feather in the bag of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, whose immaculate planning and conduct of the National Games, and Afro-Asian Games in 2002-03 drew global applause.

Hanumanth Rao explained that the IOA meeting had zeroed in on Andhra Pradesh bid after the Uttarakhand Government expressed its inability to host the games. Meanwhile, a high-profile team from Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association (APOA) was present in Guwahati to press their claim. The delegation, led by Chairman P R Mohan, included Vice-Chairperson Rekha Rani, SAAP Chairman PR Mohan, Purushottam, Badeti Raamayya and Ch K Punnaiah Chowdary.

Andhra Pradesh also submitted its bid to host the 2019 edition by depositing Rs 50 lakh security amount. The SAAP chief said that they would deliver a qualitative and successful edition, thanks to the personal involvement of Chandrababu Naidu, who has been in the forefront of promotion of sports.