Andhra Pradesh Unveils Ambitious New Sports Policy to Boost Athletic Excellence

Amaravati (Journalist File ) : The Andhra Pradesh government has launched a new sports policy aimed at transforming the state into a major sports hub. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a review meeting at the Secretariat to discuss the features of this policy, which he described as superior to those of other states in India.

The new policy is anchored on four key objectives: "Sports for All," nurturing talent, enhancing the sports ecosystem, and achieving global visibility. It emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in sports, talent identification, world-class training facilities, and robust support systems for athletes.

One of the notable highlights of the policy is the significant increase in incentives for athletes who achieve success in major competitions. The cash rewards for Olympic medalists have been dramatically raised—from ₹75 lakh to ₹7 crore for gold medalists, ₹50 lakh to ₹5 crore for silver medalists, and ₹30 lakh to ₹3 crore for bronze medalists. Additionally, athletes participating in the Olympics will receive ₹50 lakh as a participation incentive.

The policy also proposes a boost in sports quota reservations in government jobs from 2% to 3%, with a specific recommendation for 3% reservation in uniformed services. Furthermore, it includes a provision for 50% reservation for Grade 3 coaches who win international medals.

Recognizing the role of events in popularizing sports, the government plans to increase rewards for medalists in various competitions, including the Asian Games, World Championships, National Games, and the Khelo India Games. For instance, gold medalists in the Asian Games will now receive ₹4 crore, while silver and bronze medalists will receive ₹2 crore and ₹1 crore, respectively.

To further enhance the sports infrastructure, the Chief Minister emphasized the establishment of integrated sports complexes in Amaravati, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam, as well as sports schools in Kadapa, Vijayawada, and Vizianagaram, with special provisions for tribal youth in the latter.

In a bid to promote traditional sports at the grassroots level, the policy outlines plans for developing sports development centers at the mandal and constituency levels, alongside creating sports fields in village panchayats. The Chief Minister underscored the need to promote diverse sports beyond cricket, stating that securing job security for those pursuing sports as a career could yield positive results in the future.

Highlighting the success of athletes from the undivided state, Naidu reiterated that many sportspersons had made their mark in the Olympics, attributing their achievements to the policies implemented in the past. He urged officials to work towards developing infrastructure with the participation of interested individuals and organizations under a public-private partnership model.

The cabinet is expected to deliberate on the new policy shortly, with a vision to create a vibrant sporting culture in Andhra Pradesh. The review meeting was attended by Minister Mandapalli Ram Prasad Reddy, SAP Chairman Animeni Ravi Naidu, and other officials.