Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association (APOA) has appealed to state govt to provide financial assistance to athletes representing the state in the 38th National Games, that is scheduled on Jan 28 in Uttarakhand. APOA president RK Purushottam expressed concern over the lack of response from the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) for the past two months, despite repeated requests.
During a media conference in Vijayawada on Sunday, APOA members highlighted the financial struggles they have faced in sending athletes to the National Games over the past two years.
“In the previous govt, promises were made to provide funding for the National Games, but they were never fulfilled. Now, with just a month left for the tournament, there is uncertainty over whether the current govt will extend any support,” said Purushottam.
The APOA president noted that the estimated cost for the team’s participation is ₹33 lakh. He added that athletes are training rigorously to bring home more medals this year. He also recalled the legacy of chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who had successfully hosted the National Games and brought recognition to the state.
Badeti Venkata Ramayya, chef-de-Mission of AP team at National Games, emphasised that even modest support from govt could significantly boost the morale of the players.A
