Naidu wants Olympics in Amaravati

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said that his government was ready to host prestigious Olympics games in the new capital Amaravati. He had appealed to the Central government and the Indian Olympics Association to help his government in hosting the event.

Speaking after felicitating Olympics silver medalist PV Sindhu in Vijayawada, Chandrababu Naidu said that sports city is one of the nine cities that he had planned for the capital Amaravati. The sports city would have all facilities of world class sports and games and would produce champions in the years to come.

He said his government would promote sports cities in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati also. Every stadium in the State would be strengthened with the world class infrastructure to produce world class champions in all games and sports, he asserted.

He requested the Central government and the Indian Olympics Association to take initiative and ensure that Olympics is organsied at Amaravati. He recalled that as Chief Minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh, he had felicitated Karanam Malleswari in 2000 who won bronze medal in weightlifting at the Olympics.

Stating that Gopichand was inspired by Malleswari’s victory, the Chief Minister recalled the victory of the badminton player in the All England Championship in 2003. On this victory, his government had allocated 5 acres of land at Gachibowli to Gopichand to start Badminton Academy, he recalled. He wanted the younger generations to take active part in sports and games along with education as that would keep them physically fit and healthy.

Civic reception to Sindhu
Thousands of children and civilians greeted Olympics silver medalist, PV Sindhu, who reached Vijayawada for civic reception conferred by the State government on Tuesday. She was taken in an open-top vehicle from the Gannavaram airport to the city as hundreds of sports lovers followed her in a motor rally. Chandrababu Naidu and his Cabinet colleagues received her at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium where thousands of children waited for her.

As she arrived on the dais for the civic reception, the students and civilians greeted her in admiration. The Chief Minister offered her his seat on the dais and honoured Sindhu and her coach, Pullela Gopichand, on behalf of the State government. He congratulated Sindhu and thanked her coach and parents for giving a star player to the country. He said that every Telugu family was feeling proud as Sindhu made the country proud by winning the silver medal in Olympics.

Rs 25 lakh prize money, job to Srikanth & Neeraja Chandrababu Naidu announced Rs 25 lakh prize money and Group II job for Rio Olympics participants Srikanth and Neeraja. Andhra University announced Doctorate to Badminton Coach Pullela Gopichand. “I am trying to spot the talents of the students, they are the future national and international stars,” he added.

Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) Secretary and MP Gokaraju Gangaraju and his team presented Rs 25 lakh cash award to Sindhu and Rs 10 lakh to coach Gopichand. Local MP Kesineni Srinivasa Rao, and MLAs in his constituency presented Rs 25 lakh to Sindhu. Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Nimmakayala China Rajappa, Ministers K Achennayudu, Palle Raghunatha Reddy, Dr K Mrinalini, P Sujatha, Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, Narayana, S Raghava Rao, B Gopala Krishna, SAAP Chairman PR Mohan, MPs Kesineni Srinivas, K Narayana, Murali Mohan and MLCs, MLAs and others were present.