International archer and Asian Games medallist Vennam Jyothi Surekha on Saturday alleged that the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh diverted a cash award, that she was promised by the state government after she won the Arjuna award.
Speaking to reporters in Vijayawada, the Arjuna awardee said, "On August 31, 2017, I met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who announced a cash prize of Rs 1 crore, house site in Vijayawada and Group-I posting. Several government officials were present."
Met & felicitated the Arjun Awardee Archer Jyothi Surekha. Awarded her with Rs.1 Cr, a 500 yards plot along with a govt. job opportunity. pic.twitter.com/EXLklz0Emn
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) August 31, 2017
"However, on May 4, I learnt that around Rs 22 lakh was deducted from the total amount, due to a Government Order (GO) from April 2017. Additionally, another Rs 15 lakh was deducted to Cherukuri Satyanarayana for 'coaching'. He is not my coach and he never was," she added.
Cherukuri Satyanarayana is the owner of the famous Volga Academy for archery in Vijayawada.
"Right from my childhood, I trained under J Rama Rao and since 2013, I was in the Indian camp under the training of Jeevan Jyoti Singh Teja," Surekha explained.
This left Jyothi Surekha with only Rs 61.53 lakh out of the total Rs 1 crore that was promised.
“In 2012, I played a championship in the USA with financial support from the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA). From that time, I have won medals in various national and international fixtures. How can the SAAP officials deduct the cash incentive announced by the Chief Minister without any prior intimation?” she asked.
Surekha's father, V Surendra, alleged that SAAP officials had struck a deal with Cherukuri Satyanarayana and said that they would launch a hunger strike if justice was not meted out to them.
"CM Chandrababu Naidu’s noble will of encouraging sports personnel is getting diverted with the personal motives of a few coaches and officials of SAAP and the government should respond immediately and do justice for me," Surekha told reporters.