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Olympic body expands in summer heat

Body's conjuring trick to add seven will increase strength from 25 to 32

Hyderabad: It is true what the science textbooks teach children in schools heat does expand. In a turn of events perhaps best explained by the laws of physics, the Telangana Olympic Association, in its first executive committee meeting held on a scorching summer’s day on Thursday grew in numbers. Without actually getting down to business, the powers that be decided they needed a bigger team to carry out an ‘Olympic task’.

Those who sneaked in through the backdoor include B.K. Haranath, G. Shanker Yadav, Ameet Sanghi, P. Mallesha, R. Narayan Reddy, N. Mahipal, Y.B. Dhankishan and R. Sridhar Reddy. With the exception of Haranath who had lost the contest for a vice-president’s post none of the others were in the running at elections held on April 19. Haranath was co-opted as a joint secretary in Thursday’s meeting. According to a release, this move was made to fill a vacancy that was created, though it does not mention who among the three elected joint secretaries P. Malla Reddy, M. Ramakrishna or B. Kailash Yadav vacated their posts.

Shanker, Sanghi, Mallesha, Narayan and Mahipal were nominated for the posts of ‘associate vice-presidents’ for a term of four years while Dhankishan and Sridhar Reddy were roped in as ‘associate joint secretaries’, also for four years. Given that the body already had 25 members, this conjuring trick to add seven to its ranks does make one wonder exactly how taxing its duties are.
It should be interesting to note that there is little clarity on whether or not the TOA is the state’s legitimate Olympic body.

A rival body the Olympic Association of Telangana, headed by Ranga Rao was formed in the build-up to TOA’s elections, and is recognised by the Indian Olympic Association. While that move has been brushed aside by TOA, doubts remain. Also in Thursday’s meeting, the hitherto unknown Telangana Modern Pentathlon Association which is apparently wracked by factionalism gained recognition as an affiliated member.

“The Telangana Moderrn Pantathlon Association headed by M. Anil Kumar as president, Parag Wadhavkar as general secretary and T. Narsing Rao as treasurer has been given affiliation and admitted as new member,” the release said.Modern pentathlon comprises five events fencing, 200 metres freestyle swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting and a 3,200m cross country run.

However, any activity connected to this particular discipline is unknown in Hyderabad at least.It was also decided that the Oympic body, in association with the Sports Authority of Telangana State, will organise a sports meet from June 2 to 8 to celebrate Telangana Formation Day.

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