AP to Roll Out 90-Day Sports Action Plan, Says Lokesh
He said the government would compile suggestions from athletes and experts to design a structured roadmap.
Tirupati:The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing a 90-day action plan to strengthen the sports ecosystem, with focus on grassroots development and creation of world-class infrastructure.
This was stated by education minister Nara Lokesh while he interacted with national and international sportspersons at the newly inaugurated NTR Sports Complex in Tirupati on Wednesday.
He said the government would compile suggestions from athletes and experts to design a structured roadmap. The aim is to build a robust sports system while widening the youths’ participation at the grassroots and develop Rayalaseema as a sports hub.
Lokesh said insights gathered during his ‘Yuva Galam’ padayatra reflected the aspirations of youth for better sports opportunities. He noted that over 421 candidates secured jobs under the sports quota in the recent DSC recruitment and said their services would be utilised to strengthen sports at the grassroots.
Transparency would be ensured in providing opportunities to sportspersons and corporate partnerships would be explored for maintaining sports infrastructure, he said.
During the interaction, athletes placed a range of suggestions before the state government. Olympic medallist PV Sindhu stressed the need to introduce structured sports training from the school level and allocate dedicated periods for physical activity alongside academics.
She said early exposure would help children develop into competitive athletes. She cited efforts to train young players through a badminton academy in Visakhapatnam.
Former India women’s cricket captain Mithali Raj called for organising summer coaching camps to identify talent and create awareness among children and youth. She also suggested scholarships for promising players and improvement of sports infrastructure across the state.
Arjuna awardee Karnam Malleswari proposed introducing a specialised curriculum for sportspersons, on the lines of sports universities, to balance education and training. She highlighted the need for financial assistance and sponsorship support for international competitions.
Badminton player Tamiri Surya Charishma said government backing would help athletes preparing for global events such as the Olympics. Athlete Jyothi Yarraji called for development of athletics tracks and swimming infrastructure, while hockey player E Rajani pointed to the need to support talented players from rural areas.
Kho-kho player P. Siva Reddy welcomed the provision of jobs under the sports quota and suggested setting up dedicated academies for specific disciplines. Other participants sought development of small stadiums at the local level and increased international exposure for emerging players.
In response, Lokesh said the government would adopt a systematic approach to sports development starting from schools. Lack of fitness among children was identified as a key concern, he said, and stressed the need for coordinated efforts by both the government and parents.
He added that special plans were being prepared to promote sports in the Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati growth corridors.
Among those present were shuttler Kidambi Srikanth and several other athletes from disciplines including badminton, athletics, chess, para sports, archery, hockey and basketball.
