Vijayawada, Sep 16: International Archer, Mandava Rishita, who was denied a medical seat under sports quota at NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) today began a fast-unto-death in front of the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) stadium here.

Ms Rishita said the admission procedure, under the sports quota for medical courses should be 'cleansed' as the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) had given priority to ''unqualified'' sportspersons with ''invalid'' certificates during the admissions conducted by NTRUHS for MBBS/BDS courses.

The Archer, who won a silver medal in the ninth Junior World Championship in 2006 in Mexico, was stunned as her name was not figured in the list of candidates for professional courses. She alleged that while the ''unqualified'' were placed at tenth priority, she was at 15th.

She also alleged that there were irregularities in the verification of certificates by the SAAP and priority was given to the sportspersons in 'C' category like roller skating and throwball, bypassing the 'A'category, archery.

Four candidates were provided seats in Andhra and Osmania universities based on 'invalid certificates' issued by a Federation and certified by some officials in the SAAP, she added.

UNI