Visakhapatnam to Be Developed as a Sports Hub: Ganta Srinivasa Rao

Bheemili MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao has announced that Visakhapatnam will be developed as a major sports hub, with Andhra Pradesh aiming to become a leader in sports at the national level.

Speaking after inaugurating the Amaravati Championship Cup competitions at the Kommadi Integrated Sports Complex on National Sports Day, the MLA said Visakhapatnam needs a state-of-the-art integrated sports facility similar to Gachibowli. He recalled that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had inaugurated the Kommadi sports complex.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao revealed that one of the two stadiums sanctioned for the disabled in the country had been allotted to Andhra Pradesh. The Rs 200-crore facility will be developed on 22 acres in Kommadi. He said the government was supporting sportspersons who excel at national and international levels with incentives, land, jobs, and a special sports policy.

Highlighting that many small nations had earned global recognition through sports, he stressed the need to strengthen sports infrastructure and mobilise CSR funds and donor contributions. “Playing is more important than winning or losing. Sporting excellence will keep youth away from backwardness,” he said.

Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Chairman Animini Ravi Naidu said a 3% reservation quota was being implemented for sportspersons in government jobs and competitive exams, with 427 posts allotted in DSC. He alleged that the sports sector had weakened during the YSRCP regime and noted that IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh had made sports grounds mandatory in schools.

Dronacharya Awardee I. Venkateswara Rao, Arjuna Awardees Neelamsetty Lakshmi, M.V. Manikyala Rao, and S. Jayaram, along with several national and international players from Visakhapatnam, were felicitated during the programme. Saplings were also planted on the complex premises.