New sports policy will be introduced in next Assembly session: CM Revanth Reddy

Speaking in the Assembly, he said the Congress government made massive allocations in the budget to encourage sports and gave priority to it. No other government earlier in the State made such allocations. “It’s not only in education but if anyone excels in sports, he or she will secure jobs and get honour to the family,” he explained.

He said the State government gave Group-I jobs to boxer Nikhat Zareen and cricket player Mohammed Siraj for their outstanding performance in their respective sports. “We will bring a comprehensive sports policy in Telangana. We will study policies in other States and bring the best policy. Haryana is promoting the most number of sportsmen. We will introduce the sports policy in the upcoming Assembly session,” he said.

“If land is available in mandal centers, the government has no objection to building a stadium. Initial talks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to build an international cricket stadium in Begumpet have been completed,” Revanth Reddy said.

He said the BCCI has also responded positively. “We will allocate land for the stadium in a few days. We will move forward with a special action plan and allocate funds for sports. We will accept any suggestions for implementing the best sports policy,” he said.

The stadiums built in Hyderabad in the past have been limited to private and political events. “We need to upgrade them and increase students’ interest in sports. The government wants to take that responsibility with everyone’s support. If all political parties agree, we have no objection to name the Telugu University after freedom fighter Suravaram Pratap Reddy,” he added.