The government also has ambitions of hosting major international sporting events. Talks are under way with the Indian Olympic Association to host the National Games within the next two years.
Published Aug 03, 2025 | 3:14 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 03, 2025 | 3:14 PM
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy
Synopsis: The Telangana government has launched an ambitious Sports Policy with the objective of producing Olympic gold medallists. The policy includes the creation of a Telangana Sports Hub, overseen by a Board of Governors comprising prominent corporate leaders, sportspersons, and government representatives, to manage the Telangana Sports Development Fund and coordinate infrastructure, training, and outreach programmes.
Major initiatives include the integration of key sports facilities into a unified hub, the construction of mini stadiums in all Assembly constituencies, the establishment of a public-private partnership sports university in Hyderabad, and the allocation of ₹321 crore in the 2025 budget to support athletes, including para-athletes, women, and rural sportspersons.
The Congress government in Telangana has unveiled an ambitious Sports Policy, aimed at transforming the state into a national and international sports hub, with the long-term goal of producing Olympic gold medallists.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, India finished 71st out of 203 participating nations, winning six medals – one silver and five bronze.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, announcing the policy at the Telangana Sports Conclave in Hyderabad on Saturday, 2 August, expressed confidence that future Olympic gold medallists would emerge from the state.
“We have declared that we are ready to host the Olympics but what if we do not win a single gold medal. This sports policy is not a mere piece of paper but a document etched in gold,” Reddy said.
He added that the policy was prepared after a comprehensive review of the state’s sports infrastructure, its pool of talented athletes, and Telangana’s potential to win medals at national and international levels.
The government also has ambitions of hosting major international sporting events. Talks are under way with the Indian Olympic Association to host the National Games within the next two years. Preliminary discussions have also been held with the BCCI on building an international cricket stadium in Begumpet, with land allocation expected soon.
A core element of the Telangana Sports Policy – 2025 is the creation of a Board of Governors for the proposed Telangana Sports Hub.
A government order (G.O.Rt.No.225) issued by the Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture (Sports) Department previously, formally announced the board, which will oversee the Telangana Sports Development Fund (TSDF) to ensure efficient and transparent use of resources.
The Sports Hub is envisaged as the centrepiece of a sustainable sports ecosystem in the state, providing leadership and policy direction in infrastructure development, training, education, and grassroots outreach.
The board will be co-chaired by billionaire Sanjiv Goenka, founder and chairman of the Kolkata-based conglomerate RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, and Upasana Kamineni, founder of the wellness platform URLife and wife of actor Ram Charan.
Furthermore, the board will have 14 other members, including corporate and sports personalities: Vija Dani (Dani Foundation), Kavya Maran (Sun TV Network), C Sashidhar (Vishwa Samudra), Pullela Gopichand (badminton), Ravikanth Reddy (volleyball), Baichung Bhutia (football), Abhinav Bindra (shooting), and Kapil Dev (cricket).
It also includes senior sports administrators Biyyala Venkat Papa Rao and Injeti Srinivas, along with government representatives such as the chairman of SATG and the special chief secretary/principal secretary to the government (sports).
The board will drive targeted initiatives aligned with the state’s sports development goals, with the TSDF playing a central role in building a world-class sporting environment.
Major infrastructure initiatives
The state government has proposed integrating major sports facilities including Lal Bahadur Stadium, Hakimpet Sports School, Kotla Vijay Bhaskar Reddy Indoor Stadium, Saroornagar Indoor Stadium, and the Osmania University Velodrome into a unified Sports Hub, to be managed by the TSDF.
Additionally, mini stadiums will be built in all 119 Assembly constituencies, and specialised residential sports academies will be set up under the Social Welfare, Tribal Welfare, Backward Classes Welfare, and Minorities Welfare departments to ensure inclusivity.
A key proposal is the establishment of the Young India Physical Education and Sports University (YIPESU) in Hyderabad, modelled on institutions such as South Korea’s Sports University and the University of Queensland in Australia. It will operate under a public private partnership model, with its own board and autonomous governance.
The government has pledged structured support for para-athletes, women athletes, and rural sportspersons. Specialised sports schools will be set up in each Lok Sabha constituency to provide early training, while the Young India Sports Academy will offer advanced coaching, mentoring, and career development programmes.
The state has allocated ₹321 crore in the 2025 budget for these initiatives, a significant increase from previous years. The policy also promises record rewards and strong institutional backing for athletes, ensuring sport as a viable career path.
