The Union Sports Ministry has given in-principle approval to a centre on the lines of the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, at the sprawling Gachibowli Sports Complex.
This was disclosed by Union Minister of State for Sports & Defence Jitendra Singh during an unscheduled visit to the complex on Thursday.
On a specific request from State Government officials, Jitendra Singh went around the venue and was said to be immensely pleased with it.
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State Sports Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar and Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh VC & Managing Director T. R. K. Rao, briefed Mr. Singh on the various proposals which the State Government intended to put in place, including an exclusive Sports University and a Centre of Excellence (CoE).
“The Union Minister said he would surely consider setting up the CoE as early as possible in lieu of the Centre’s policy in this regard to promote Olympic sport,” Dr. Rao told The Hindu .
On the matter of the proposed Sports University, Dr. Rao said the Union Minister had said that since infrastructure available now perfectly suits the NIS-pattern, efforts would be made to see that it is set up here soon.
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“We found him to be extremely positive to all schemes of the AP Government. We hope many more welcome gestures from him in future on the sporting front,” Dr. Rao concluded.