New chairman of SAAP assumes charge, boating suspended in view of floods

VIJAYAWADA: Tourism Minister Srinivasa Rao has said the AP government is taking steps to promote sports in the state and offering best coaching and training to athletes to compete at national and international levels.

YSR Congress leader Siddha Reddy assumed charge as new chairman of the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh here on Friday. Minister Srinivasa read out the oath of office to Siddha Reddy.

The minister announced suspension of boating operations due to the floods.

Srinivasa Rao said the government is constructing sports complexes in every district to promote sports. The government has decided to offer Rs 10 lakh for the winner of the gold medal, while Rs 3 lakh would be offered to the silver medal and Rs 2 lakh for the bronze medal winners the national levels.

The winning of bronze medal by ace shuttler P.V. Sindhu at the Tokyo Olympics is a matter of pride to AP, he noted, and asked youths to take inspiration from her.

SAAP’s new chairman thanked the Chief Minister for giving him the post. “Despite facing severe financial problems due to the Covid-19 crisis, the CM fulfilled all the promises he made to the people and is working for the welfare of people and development of the state,” he said.

Siddha Reddy said he would work to produce best and top-level sportspersons from AP in the coming months.

TOURISM MEET

Minister Srinivasa Rao held a high-level review meeting with top officials of the tourism department at Beram Park in Vijayawada on Friday. It discussed the steps to be taken to handle the Godavari and Krishna floods.

The minister asked district collectors, police officers and other relief officials to work together and monitor the situation in the flooded areas. Precautionary measures must be taken in tourism spots, he said, and added that boating should not be allowed until the floods subsided.