ANITS offers the international medallist a free seat

Avani B. Panchal took part in World tourneys too

V-C happy over willingness of colleges to promote sports

VISAKHAPATNAM: An international skater who won medals in the Asian championships Avani B. Panchal has realised her dream of joining B. Tech course, thanks to the interest shown by Andhra University Vice-Chancellor B. Satyanarayana and the gesture of Anil Neerukonda Institute of Technology and Science (ANITS) located at Sangivalasa.

ANITS chairman Neerukonda B.R. Prasad and Prof. Satyanarayana handed over the letter of admission into the Computer Science branch to Avani here on Friday.

Avani could not do well in EAMCET. She approached Prof. Satyanarayana as he had earlier assured roller-skaters of help.

Since the management seat in AU College of Engineering would be expensive and as the fee could not be waived, Prof. Satyanarayana contacted ANITS and another private college seeking a seat for Avani with a lesser fee under the management quota.

ANITS agreed to provide a seat to the roller-skater, who also participated in the World championships. This apart, the institution decided to collect only the amount fixed for a government quota seat (around Rs. 25,000) while the management quota seat was worth Rs. 90,000.

Pleasant surprise

But Dr. Prasad gave a pleasant surprise to Avani and Prof. Satyanarayana by announcing that the entire fee would be waived.

Prof. Satyanarayana said he was happy to see affiliated colleges coming forward to encourage sports. Andhra University was taking many steps to encourage sports and sportspersons in its colleges and also initiated workshops for PETs of each district to improve sports among children, he said.

AU Rector U. Viplava Prasad, Registrar P.V.G.D. Reddy, Director of Physical Education M. Syam Prasad, ANITS correspondent V. Tapovardhan and principal V.S.R.K. Prasad were present as Avani received the admission letter.

Avani’s parents Bharat and Vinodini and her grandmother Jaya Panchal thanked ANITS and Prof. Satyanarayana for providing a seat for Avani.