Two Years of Reform Reshape Andhra’s Sporting Landscape

Andhra Pradesh's sports and youth sectors have undergone a significant transformation over the past two years, driven by a series of reforms and investments aimed at nurturing talent, strengthening infrastructure and creating opportunities for young people, according to Transport, Youth Services and Sports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy .

Addressing the media at the Secretariat in Amaravati , the minister said the coalition government, under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu , has focused on rebuilding the state's sporting ecosystem and empowering youth through a combination of infrastructure development, financial support and leadership initiatives.

Ramprasad Reddy said the government inherited a sports sector that had suffered from years of neglect and immediately launched efforts to modernize facilities and expand access to quality training. As part of this initiative, state-of-the-art indoor sports complexes have been completed and inaugurated at Vizzy Stadium in Vizianagaram and Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam in Tirupati .

The state is also investing heavily in new sporting infrastructure through the Khelo India programme , with projects worth ₹75 crore currently underway in Vijayawada, Kuppam, Srikakulam, Rajamahendravaram and Guntur . These facilities are expected to provide athletes with improved training environments and help identify talent at the grassroots level.

Highlighting athlete welfare measures, the minister said the government has awarded ₹5.60 crore in cash incentives to sportspersons who excelled on the international stage. In addition, 429 athletes from various disciplines received a combined ₹19 crore in recognition of their achievements. The decision to increase the sports quota in government jobs from 2% to 3% has also opened new avenues for athletes, resulting in 819 sportspersons securing public employment during the past two years.

To strengthen sports development across Andhra Pradesh, the government has initiated the construction of Sports Development Centres in every constituency. While 46 centres have already been completed , work on another 91 facilities is progressing at various stages.

The minister noted that Andhra Pradesh has successfully hosted several high-profile competitions, including the Amaravati Championships , National Para Badminton events , Beach Volleyball and Beach Kabaddi tournaments , helping enhance the state's reputation as an emerging sporting destination.

Beyond sports, the government has expanded its focus on youth empowerment. Through youth festivals, leadership development programmes, career counselling initiatives and social awareness campaigns , lakhs of young people have been engaged across the state. The Youth Services Department has conducted 593 awareness programmes on issues such as drug abuse, cybercrime and women's safety, while establishing 2,820 youth clubs to promote leadership, community participation and social responsibility.

The minister later unveiled the brochure for Andhra Yuva Sankalp 2026 , describing it as a platform to inspire young people to contribute meaningfully to the state's growth and development. He said the government's long-term vision is to create a generation of confident, skilled and socially conscious youth capable of driving Andhra Pradesh's progress in the years ahead.