Renovated Olympic Bhavan Opened at LB Stadium

IOA President Dr. P.T. Usha inaugurated the renovated ₹1.5-crore Telangana Olympic Bhavan and unveiled a statue of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand at LB Stadium, urging young athletes to use the facility to chase international sporting excellence

Hyderabad: Dr.P.T. Usha, president of Indian Olympic Association, felt that the Telangana Olympic Bhavan on the Lal Bahadur Stadium should meet the aspirations and dreams of the young athletes.

Speaking at the inauguration of the renovated complex here on Thursday where she also unveiled the statue of hockey legend Dhyan Chand, Dr. Usha said it was great to have such a complex and hoped that it would inspire the young athletes to look far beyond and keep improving.

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“I am sure this Bhavan will be immensely beneficial to the sports fraternity,” she said.

Telangana Sports Minister V. Srihari was emotional and touched the feet of Dr Usha recalling that as a 10-year-old school student interested in sports he first saw the great athlete on tv and later came to know about achievements.

“Never did I realise that one day I would be sitting beside her. This is a great moment and I hope all the young athletes look up to her as an inspiration, taking up sports with all seriousness and not just as a part-time commitment,” the Sports Minister said.

Mr.A.P. Jitender Reddy, Advisor to State Government (Sports) and president of Telangana Olympic Association, who played a big role in the project, recalled the contribution of his predecessors and particularly late L. Venkatram Reddy, former secretary of unified AP Olympic Association, during whose tenure under the presidentship of the then DGP and President of APOA Mr H.J. Dora, the Bhavan was constructed two decades ago.

“I am grateful to all the MPs and corporate groups who have chipped in with financial support to complete this project costing Rs. 1.5 crores,” he said.

Mr. R. Sridhar Reddy, president of Telangana Basketball Association, appealed to the Telangana Sports Minister to have Sports Excellence Award in the name of LVR or Bhai Saheb as was fondly known in sporting fraternity.

“That should be a great tribute to Venkatram Reddy whose contribution to sports particularly in facilitating so many jobs to athletes can never be forgotten,” Sridhar Reddy said.

Renowned sports personalities N. Mukesh Kumar, Syed Nayeemuddin, P. Gopichand, Mulini Reddy, SATG chairman Shiv Sena Reddy, SATG VC & MD Dr. Soni Bala Devi, were also present.