Tirupati to host National Inter District Junior Athletics Meet 2020

Tirupati: With the biggest success of NIDJAM 2019, the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) has decided to hold the next edition also in Tirupati, the third in a row.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of MILO National Inter District Junior Athletics Meet (NIDJAM), AFI joint secretary Madhukanth Pathak said this edition has witnessed huge success of all other editions since 2003. From the participation of 70 districts in the country in the first NIDJAM in 2003, the 17th edition in 2019 witnessed athletes from 503 districts.

He said Chittoor district machinery has conducted the event extraordinarily well and asked to declare Tirupati as NIDJAM's permanent venue. Keeping this in mind for now, next year also the event will be held here only. Saying that AFI will be holding training camp for coaches in the country, he sought the cooperation of coaches in the district also.

MLA B Karunakar Reddy, who participated as chief guest, said that NIDJAM was held in Haridwar for 10 years in a row and expressed hope that Tirupati will become a big venue than Haridwar and the city has potential to hold the event every year. "I will convince TTD to extend its full cooperation for this event. The city has almost eight universities, comprehensive police set up and efficient district administration to take care of the event well. I request the AFI to organise it here for the next 10 years," he appealed.

Urban SP Dr Gajarao Bhupal said the event has brought good talent from remote areas into limelight and it would be a commendable effort. Corporation Commissioner P S Girisha revealed that entire municipal team has worked well in making it as 'Plastic-free NIDJAM' and 'Swachh NIDJAM.' He received award from the district administration for this effort. Olympic Association District President K Santha Reddy also spoke on the occasion.

District Collector Dr N Bharat Gupta thanked all educational institutions, all officials, NSS volunteers and others for their untiring efforts and cooperation in conducting the event successfully.

Mementoes and certificates were presented to all those involved in the organisation of the event. Joint Collector II VR Chandra Mouli, CEO of District Sports Authority S Lakshmi, Trainee Collector Prudhvi Tej and other officials took part.

This year total four records tumbled in various events while 12 new meet records were set last year. Andhra athletes have shown yet another poor performance by not winning at least one gold. They have settled with two silver and one bronze medals in different events while the host district Chittoor has not even entered semi-finals in any of the events.