VIJAYAWADA: Responding to the news article published in TNIE on Friday, VC and MD of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) S Bharani clarified that SAAP had taken necessary action against the players who obtained medical seats under sports quota. She informed that SAAP has filed a written complaint to the Machavaram police against the Fencing Association of Andhra Pradesh (FAAP) seeking a thorough enquiry into the issuance of certificates and other aspects pertaining to the non-compliance of renewing their recognition from 2023.
Taking it on serious notes, the SAAP has issued circulars to the concerned Sports Associations requesting them to submit their proposals for issuing of affiliation renewal, in order to avoid inconvenience to fencing players seeking admission to professional courses. “SAAP has addressed a letter to the Fencing Federation of India (FFI) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) regarding the allegations pertaining to the functioning of the Fencing Association of AP,” she said.
SAAP has clarified that they have issued show cause notices to the coaches of SAAP for submitting explanations on attending in the State Level Senior Fencing Championship 2025 without notice of the authorities concerned.
In regard to the player who obtained the medical seat in ASRAM college in Eluru, SAAP has opposed the case and stated the developments will be communicated to the university for withdrawal of medical seat.
Secondly, the FAAP has categorically denied allegations of certificate tampering and irregularities in the conduct of championships and selection trials, terming them ‘baseless and far from facts.’
Secretary GSV Krishna Mohan said that FAAP did not issue any fake certificates to the players and has nothing to do with the player who obtained a medical seat using the certificates. He clarified that the certificates in question were not tampered with in any manner.
The FAAP said that qualified technical officials from Odisha and Tamil Nadu officiated as referees during the competitions. “As per norms, players securing the top four positions were selected to represent the State at the national-level competitions. Since the entire process of entries and conduct of events was done online, issuing certificates with backdated entries was ‘not possible under any circumstances,” the FAAP asserted.
After the General Body Meeting, minutes of the first meeting were approved in the subsequent meeting and submitted in duplicate to the Registrar’s Office. The process of renewal with the concerned authorities is underway, the FAAP said.
As per the SAAP website, the FAAP continues to be recognised, though the renewal is pending. The association pointed out that if competitions are not conducted during this period, state players would lose the opportunity to showcase their talent at national platforms. The association further expressed their integrity to prove the allegations made by the SAAP and other individuals wrong.