Telangana: Sports Coaching Fee Hike Draws Flak
The increase will make training unaffordable for many families: Cricket Coaches
HYDERABAD: The sudden hike in coaching fees by the Sports Authority of Telangana from September has drawn criticism from coaches and parents, who say the move will discourage young players at the grassroots level.
At LB Stadium, monthly fees were raised sharply: swimming from ₹2,400 to ₹3,600, badminton from ₹1,600 to ₹2,400, lawn tennis from ₹1,600 to ₹2,400, skating from ₹1,200 to ₹1,800, gymnastics from ₹800 to ₹1,200 and kabaddi from ₹240 to ₹360. Similar hikes were reported at other stadiums, including swimming at Gachibowli Sports Complex (₹3,000 to ₹4,500), shooting at Saroornagar Stadium (₹3,000 to ₹4,500) and basketball at KVBR Indoor Stadium (₹1,200 to ₹1,800).
Coaches said the increase will make training unaffordable for many families. “Only the wealthy can afford sports training now,” one coach remarked, adding that the authority’s primary role is to support talented children from all backgrounds.
Former international player Banka Hari Krishan Prasad said the “pay and play” policy introduced years ago had already reduced new enrolments. “Government should remove this policy and keep fees minimal, especially in state-run stadiums. Most players come from poor or middle-class families,” he said.
Parents also voiced concern. Ashwin Jaiswal, whose two children train in gymnastics, said many parents have formed a social media group to protest. “The middle class cannot afford these hikes. With school fees already high, parents are withdrawing children from sports,” he said.
Senior coach Satya Vani said the rise will further reduce opportunities. “There are already few facilities and qualified coaches. Now, with abnormal fees, many talented children are being withdrawn. This will lead to a sudden drop in players,” she said.
