Fitness Key to Effective Policing: DGP Harish Kumar Gupta
He was speaking after inaugurating the first AP State Police Sports and Games Meet-2026 at the APSP 6th Battalion ground in Mangalagiri. He formally declared the four-day meet open by releasing balloons and peace doves.
Vijayawada: Physical fitness and mental alertness were vital for effective policing and police personnel should make sports an integral part of their professional lives, DGP Harish Kumar Gupta said on Tuesday.
He was speaking after inaugurating the first AP State Police Sports and Games Meet-2026 at the APSP 6th Battalion ground in Mangalagiri. He formally declared the four-day meet open by releasing balloons and peace doves.
As many as 1,900 sportspersons representing 16 teams from various police ranges and units across Andhra Pradesh are participating in the competitions. Another 450 officials, coaches, technical officials, team managers and support staff are involved in the event.
Receiving the guard of honour from the participating teams, Gupta described the first large-scale state-level police sports meet as a milestone for the department. He said police personnel had to work long hours, take quick decisions in difficult situations, withstand pressure and function as teams, with sports helping build the physical and mental capabilities required for such duties.
“Accept victory with humility and turn defeat into determination,” he told the participants.
The DGP stressed that participants remained police personnel first and their conduct on and off the field should reflect the department’s discipline, dignity and professionalism. He urged personnel to prioritise fitness and make sports part of their daily routine.
The meet will continue till September 4, with competitions being held at VIT-AP University and Acharya Nagarjuna University.
Additional DGP N. Madhusudan Reddy and senior police officials, including IGPs Ake Ravi Krishna, B. Rajakumari and Ch. Srikanth and DIGs K.V. Mohan Rao, Anburajan and R.N. Ammireddy, attended.
