CM Revanth Reddy Announces Young India Sports University to Train Olympic Athletes
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday announced the setting up of the Young India Sports University on a 200-acre campus in Hakimpet, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The aim is to develop world-class athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The state government is also considering the campus of the existing sports school in Hakimpet or the sports complex in Gachibowli for locating the Young India Sports Univeristy. If it is established in Gachibowli, the infrastructure for training will be created in Hakimpet in 200-acre area.
The announcement came in response to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by noted industrialist Anand Mahindra, recently appointed chairman of the Young India Skills University, who voiced concern at India's underwhelming performance at the Paris Olympics, where the country ranked 71st in the medals tally.
Revanth Reddy responded by sharing his plans for the sports university, stating that it was driven by the same desire to bridge the gap between India's potential and performance. In his response to Mahindra's concerns, Revanth Reddy expressed his deep commitment to nurturing India's youth and unlocking their athletic potential.
"Your words, the core emotions of love for our country and belief in the immense potential of Indian youth, resonate deeply with me," Revanth Reddy told Mahindra on his X handle. He revealed that the administration had secured a 200-acre campus in Hakimpet for the proposed sports university and invited the industrialist to join the endeavour.
"One of the major components of the Fourth City/Future City is an integrated sports hub. It is expected that sports academies related to over a dozen disciplines will be set up in the sports hub where modern sports infra will be provided. It will also have centres of sports science and sports medicine," a CMO release said.
Revanth Reddy further highlighted his recent trip to South Korea, where he met with a delegation from the Korea National Sports University (KNSU), including its president Moon Won-Jae. A partnership between KNSU and the proposed Young India Sports University is in the works, with KNSU agreeing in principle to collaborate on the project.
During his South Korea visit, Revanth Reddy had felicitated Lim Sihyeon, a triple gold medalist at the Paris Olympics, and interacted with athletes and coaches.
The CM also extended an invitation to Mahindra, seeking his cooperation in creating world-class infrastructure that could turn around India's performance at the 2028 Olympics. "I want to ensure Telangana harnesses the potential of youth from not only our state but also the country, to give India the gift of several medals," Revanth Reddy said.
Mahindra, who had earlier tweeted his pride in India's medal winners but expressed distress over the country's overall ranking in the Paris Olympics, had questioned what was preventing India from finding world-class Olympic talent despite significant improvements in sports infrastructure and government support.
"I admit I've run out of thoughts and am confused," Mahindra posted. He praised private sector efforts like those of OGQ and Jindal Sports and acknowledged the growing interest in athletics across the nation but wondered why India was still struggling on the Olympic stage.