Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Afro-Asian Games in city, reiterates Naidu

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Feb. 8. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, reiterated that the first Afro-Asian Games would be held in the city later this year and sought the support of all sports lovers of the State to make it a grand success.

Mr. Naidu made this announcement during the prize distribution ceremony of the first WTA Indian Open tournament here on Saturday night.

This statement assumes significance as the Indian Olympic Association President, Suresh Kalmadi, has claimed recently that the Afro-Asian Games would be held in New Delhi.

The WTA Indian Open would also be held regularly every year and said that many more international sports events would be brought to the city so that it would not only be a sports capital of the country but also make a mark in the entire world, the Chief Minister said.

While congratulating the winners and all the players who participated in the tournament, Mr. Naidu also patted the organisers for a job well done. He was particularly appreciative of the fact that the SAAP Tennis complex had a near full attendance for the finals despite cricket World Cup inauguration slated later in the night.

Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova, who finished as runners up in the singles and won the doubles partnering Russia's Elena Likhovtseva, was the favourite player among the crowd on Saturday.

And, she too acknowledged the support. "I had a great time here and thank you for all the support.

I will be back next year,'' she said. The WTA winner, Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugaran, was naturally ecstatic and also promised to be back.

The Commercial Taxes Minister, K. Vijayarama Rao, the Sports Minister P. Ramulu, the Mayor T. Krishna Reddy, the SAAP MD L.V. Subrahmanyam and others were present.

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