From Our Correspondent
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh will establish a world-class Centre of Excellence for sports in partnership with the JSW Group as part of its efforts to build international-standard sports infrastructure and nurture elite athletes, Human Resources Development and IT Minister Nara Lokesh announced on Friday.
The announcement was made during an interaction with athletes selected to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Para Commonwealth Games. Lokesh hosted the sportspersons at his Undavalli residence and wished them success in bringing laurels to both the country and Andhra Pradesh.
₹2.23 Crore Released for Athlete Training
Lokesh said the state government had already sanctioned ₹2.23 crore this year towards the training of 18 athletes selected for major international competitions.
He assured the athletes that the government was prepared to extend additional financial assistance based on individual training requirements.
JSW to Help Develop International Sports Infrastructure
The Minister said JSW had agreed to partner with the Andhra Pradesh government in creating world-class sports infrastructure, including a Centre of Excellence aimed at producing elite athletes capable of competing at the highest international level.
He said the government would also focus on strengthening sports education and scientific training, besides bringing world-class coaches to Andhra Pradesh.
“We will bring internationally renowned coaches to provide the best training to our athletes. Along with modern sports infrastructure, we are placing special emphasis on sports training and education,” Lokesh said.
Policies Should Continue Beyond Governments
During the interaction, several athletes expressed concern that experienced coaches had been removed during the previous YSRCP government, affecting athlete development.
They recalled that former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had established a Centre of Excellence in Guntur with foreign coaches, which had benefited many sportspersons.
Responding to the concerns, Lokesh said government policies should remain consistent irrespective of changes in political leadership, stressing that continuity was essential for long-term sporting success.
Leading Athletes Attend Interaction
Among those who attended the event were Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (badminton), along with athletes Jyothika Sri, Venkata Rami Reddy, R. Swathi, Bhavani Yadav, Kusuma Ravada, Rashmi, Mallala Anusha, Sirisha, and Kunja Rajitha.
Also present were archers Ganesh Maniratnam and Yukta Sri, swimmer Teerthu Samadev, and para-swimmer Bhavani Karthik.
The proposed Centre of Excellence is expected to become a key component of Andhra Pradesh’s long-term strategy to develop a strong sporting ecosystem and produce athletes capable of winning medals at global competitions.