Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010858420300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Getting the message across through cricket

Staff Reporter

17 teams take part in the tournament organised by Youth Congress

Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Going all out!: Mayor M.V. Ratna Bindu tries her hand at batting as her predecessor Mallika Begum bowls at the inauguration of the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Cricket Tournament in the city on Wednesday.

VIJAYAWADA: The week-long Twenty-20 cricket tournament for Rajiv Gandhi Trophy, organised by the Youth Congress was off to a colourful start with Transport Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana and Member of Parliament Lagadapati Rajagopal displaying their batting and bowling skills respectively at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium here on Wednesday.

Keen to popularise the Congress welfare schemes among the youth, the Youth Congress is organising the tournament in which 17 teams, one each from the assembly constituencies, are taking part.

“The teams are named after welfare schemes launched by the State Government such as Pavala Vaddi, Arogyasri and Rajiv Guruha Kalpa. The response is overwhelming,” said State Youth Congress president Sudhakar Babu.

The Krishna District Cricket Association is assisting the committee by deputing the umpires and other officials for the tournament, which is being held in three venues – IGMC Stadium, Andhra Loyola College grounds and Siddhartha Medical College grounds. Much to the delight of the onlookers MayorM.V. Ratna Bindu and former Mayor Mallikha Begum exhibited their cricketing skills and the lensmen went on a clinking spree.

City Congress chief Pyla Somi Naidu, former UDA chief Malladi Vishnu, MLC Ilapuram Venkaiah, Vijaya Krishna Super Bazaar chairman A. Nagendra and former Mayor Jandhyala Sankar and corporators took part in the inaugural function.