CM unveils T sports policy, says will bring youth back to ground
The CM felt the new sports policy would bring back the sporting glory the city enjoyed in the past.
"Hyderabad has a rich history of sports. Nine of the Indian football team that finished fourth in the 1954 Olympics were from Hyderabad.
But the state lost track later and the sport was neglected in the last 10-15 years without proper policy. The youth, who played a crucial part in achieving a separate state, are now addicted to drugs. We plan to bring them back to the grounds with the new policy," Revanth Reddy said, addressing the sporting fraternity at the 1st Telangana Sports Conclave at HICC, Izzatnagar.
He also sounded a warning that the state has declared a war on drug mafia and no one would be spared in this regard.
You Can Also Check:
Hyderabad AQI
|
Weather in Hyderabad
|
Bank Holidays in Hyderabad
|
Public Holidays in Hyderabad
The 32-page booklet contains a step-by-step guide to the sports policy and how the state govt intends to implement it through the five measures – governance and organisation, sports ecosystem, long-term athlete development, infrastructure and skills development and career pathways.
Revanth said the "sports policy will not be a mere paper as the govt is dedicated to implement it to the letter and will go the distance in supporting athletes to achieve their dreams".
"Our govt is committed to promoting sports. We have shown our commitment by giving Group I posts and plots to cricketer Mohammed Siraj and boxer Nikhat Zareen. Our govt policy is clear. We have formed committees with former athletes and administrators.
There will be no influence from the govt," he added.
He further revealed that they offered to host Khelo India games and also plan to hold two disciplines if India gets to host the 2036 Olympics.
"We will have a dedicated sports university and sports academy. Our aim is to see India as a sporting nation and, as a part of our Telangana Rising Vision 2047, a chapter will be dedicated to sports. There was no budget for sports till now. We will have dedicated budget for the betterment of the sport," he added.
MoUs with foreign universities
During the one-day conclave, the state govt signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with two foreign universities — Korea National Sports University in Seoul, South Korea, and Loughborough University based in Loughborough and London.
The proposed sports university, to be run from Gachibowli for now, would share academic knowledge, curriculum, coaches training programmes, academic research and project collaboration.
The govt has also signed MoUs with Olympic bronze medal winning shooter Gagan Narang's Gun For Glory, Abhinav Bindra's Sports Academy and FIFA to establish a FIFA Talent Academy in the state. They also signed MoUs with Anil Kumble's Tenvic, which will help them scout talent in 1,000 residential schools with 50 of them being centres of excellence (CoEs), Olympic Values Education Programme and Aspire for Her.
Narang, Bindra and Pullela Gopichand would also conduct shooting, sports science and badminton mentorship programmes respectively.
Incentives to athletes
The CM also handed over cash incentives to athletes who had done the state proud by winning medals. Athlete Agasara Nandini, who won a gold in heptathlon at the 26th Asian athletics championship in South Korea received Rs 5 lakh,while gymnast Nishika Agarwal, who won a bronze in vault event, was rewarded with Rs 3 lakh.
Differently-abled shooter Dhanush Srikanth was given a cheque for Rs 10 lakh for winning two gold medals in men and mixed team event at the World Deaf shooting championships last year.
Goalball athletes Pavan Kalyan, P Sai Teja and coach G Shiva Kumar were given Rs 4.8 lakh.
Panel to oversee Sports University
Special chief secretary, sports, Jayesh Ranjan revealed that "the sports policy is inclusive, with focus on grassroots and schools to identify the talent and nurture it through proper system".
Around 50 residential schools will have a centre of excellence (CoE) with top-class coaches and athletes would be provided with a proper ecosystem. To oversee the whole process and run the world-class sports academy, a governing council with 15 prominent personalities has been formed.
With Sanjeev Goenka as chairman and Upasana Kamineni as the co-chairperson, the panel would have the likes of BV Papa Rao, Kapil Dev, Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand, Baichung Bhutia, Ravikanth Reddy, Vita Dani, Kavya Maran and C Shashidhar, with Jayesh Ranjan and Sports Authority of Telangana chairman Shiva Sena Reddy as govt representatives.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Friendship Day wishes
,
messages
and
quotes
!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
9 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Over 1,700 Indians deported from US in 2025 so far; Punjab, Haryana lead
A total of 1,703 Indian nationals — including 141 women — have been deported from the United States between January 20 and July 22, 2025, the government informed Parliament on Friday. The majority of these deportees hail from Punjab (620) and Haryana (604), followed by Gujarat (245), Jammu & Kashmir (10), and six individuals with unverified state origins. Responding to a question by DMK MP Kanimozhi in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the government maintains a record of deportations and continues diplomatic engagement to ensure humane treatment of Indian nationals. The deportations were carried out through a mix of military, charter, and commercial flights: 333 deported in February via US military flights 231 in March via US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chartered flights 300 in July through Department of Homeland Security (DHS) charters 767 deported individually or in small groups via commercial flights from the US 72 returned from Panama through individual commercial arrangements The data also reveals that over the past five years (2020–2024), a total of 5,541 Indians were deported from the US. In contrast, the UK deported 311 Indian nationals in the same five-year period, and 131 more in 2025 so far. The Minister clarified that deportation figures may vary, especially when individuals hold valid travel documents or challenge their deportation orders. Not all Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) are ultimately used, due to appeals or stays. The MEA confirmed it has 'strongly registered' concerns with US authorities regarding the treatment of deportees, particularly over the use of shackles on women and children. Cultural and religious sensitivities — including issues related to turbans and dietary preferences — have also been formally raised. 'No complaints have been received regarding the treatment of deportees on flights post February 5, 2025,' the minister added.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
9 minutes ago
- First Post
Philippines President Marcos in India for 5-day visit: Why this visit is significant
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will make his first state visit to India from today (August 4), marking 75 years of diplomatic ties. The visit includes talks with Prime Minister Modi, defence and trade discussions, and a Bengaluru business engagement read more Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), at the House of Representatives, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 28, 2025. File Image/Reuters Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is on his first official visit to India from Monday to Friday (August 4-8, 2025) aimed at advancing cooperation between New Delhi and Manila. The visit comes as the two nations commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations. This high-level state visit is expected to encompass a broad agenda – from defence and maritime security to trade, investment, and cultural exchange – and marks the first trip by a Filipino head of state to India since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's visit in 2007. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What's on the Marcos agenda in India Marcos, invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, along with an entourage including senior Cabinet ministers, top bureaucrats, key dignitaries and business leaders. During his stay in New Delhi, Marcos will meet with Modi on August 5 for in-depth bilateral talks. In addition to Modi, he is slated to call on President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, with discussions expected to cover areas ranging from regional security concerns to bolstering economic ties. According to the Philippine Communications Office (PCO), the official engagements won't be limited to Delhi. 'After official meetings and events in New Delhi, the President and his delegation will travel to Bangalore. He will meet with the business sectors in both cities,' the PCO stated. This Bengaluru leg will be a focal point for economic engagement, as Marcos interacts with leading Indian companies and potential investors. Marcos will also hold a community outreach session with members of the Filipino diaspora in New Delhi. The visit, spanning five days, signals Manila's intent to strengthen strategic ties with one of Asia's largest economies, while also providing New Delhi with a valuable opportunity to deepen its 'Act East' Policy. The trip follows a long hiatus in top-level exchanges. The last time an Indian president visited the Philippines was Ram Nath Kovind in 2019, whereas Marcos's journey will revive head-of-state diplomacy after nearly two decades. India-Philippines defence a priority Defence cooperation has emerged as one of the strongest anchors of India-Philippines relations, and it is set to be a highlight of this state visit. In January 2022, Manila signed a $374.9 million agreement for the purchase of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, making the Philippines the first foreign buyer of India's flagship missile platform. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The first delivery of the BrahMos took place on April 19, 2024, an event that signalled growing strategic convergence between the two countries. India has been steadily expanding its defence outreach to Southeast Asia, and with the Philippines, the collaboration spans military training, ship visits and maritime security dialogues. Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels frequently make port calls to the Philippines – notable visits include INS Satpura in June 2022, INS Ranvijay and INS Kora in August 2021, and several earlier deployments. These have often been accompanied by joint exercises, including the first-ever Navy-to-Navy Passage Exercise in the West Philippine Sea in 2021. Cooperation has gone beyond drills and deployments. The two sides signed an MoU on Enhanced Maritime Cooperation in 2023, alongside a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for exchanging white-shipping information, allowing real-time sharing of data on commercial ships to bolster maritime security. High-level defence engagements have also been frequent. A Philippine Coast Guard delegation led by CG Admiral Artemio M Abu visited India in August 2023, and the Philippine Army's commanding general, Lt Gen Roy Mabagos Galido, travelled to India for the 13th Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs' Conference in September 2023. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A 2006 Defence Cooperation MoU led to the creation of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC), which has convened four times, most recently in March 2023 in New Delhi. A separate MoU on Defence Industry and Logistics Cooperation signed in 2017 resulted in a Joint Defence Industry and Logistics Committee (JDILC), which has met thrice, including in March 2022. The armed forces of both countries also participate in specialised training exchanges. Philippine officers have attended India's prestigious National Defence College (NDC), while Indian officers have been part of the Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) course in Manila. Engagements extend to staff college programs and delegation visits, including multiple visits by Indian military education institutions such as the Army War College, Mhow. During the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2024, Marcos articulated Manila's vision, stating that his country 'will pursue more robust collaboration with friends such as India.' This declaration, alongside India's consistent stance on freedom of navigation and territorial integrity in the South China Sea, positions the defence track as an area ripe for new agreements or expanded commitments during the visit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What trade between India-Philippines looks like While defence cooperation grabs headlines, trade and investment form the backbone of the India-Philippines relationship – and Marcos's visit is expected to bring this into sharper focus. Bilateral trade has grown steadily, hitting $3.53 billion in 2023-24, a year-on-year increase of 8.6 per cent. India has maintained a healthy trade surplus, exporting $2.09 billion worth of goods to the Philippines while importing $1.43 billion. Major Indian exports include: Engineering goods and automotive parts Pharmaceutical products (India supplies around 20 per cent of total pharma exports to ASEAN) Steel, petroleum products, and chemicals Electronics, plastics, rice, and bovine meat Key imports from the Philippines to India feature: Electrical machinery and semiconductors Copper, lead, and precious stones Plastics and ores Food industry residues and animal fodder According to trade data, Indian pharmaceutical products accounted for 15.96 per cent of Philippine pharmaceutical imports in 2023, putting a spotlight on India's strong role in Manila's healthcare sector. Investment flows complement trade. Indian companies have invested an estimated $5 billion in the Philippines, largely in sectors like IT and BPO services, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture and FMCG. Conversely, Philippine investments in India are smaller but strategically placed, with firms like Ayala's AC Energy Corporation and Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Company (AG&P) active in renewable energy, construction, and infrastructure. Efforts to further streamline commerce have been ongoing. In April 2022, the two countries signed an Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters (ratified in June 2023). Additionally, talks on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) were revived in December 2023, with negotiations continuing to frame the Terms of Reference for the Trade Negotiations Committee. To encourage tourism and business exchanges, the Philippines recently introduced visa-free travel for Indian nationals, while direct flights between the two countries are expected to resume by late 2025 – a move that could significantly boost connectivity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why a strong India-Philippines bond matters The visit holds significance beyond bilateral ties. India and the Philippines are both part of a wider Indo-Pacific strategic framework, sharing concerns about maritime security and trade routes. The Ministry of External Affairs has framed the visit as part of India's broader outreach to Southeast Asia, noting, 'India's relations with the Philippines are an integral pillar of our 'Act East' Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR and our vision of the Indo-Pacific. The forthcoming State Visit of President Marcos coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-Philippines diplomatic relations. The visit is an opportunity for both leaders to set the path for future bilateral cooperation and to engage on regional and international issues of mutual interest.' India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN also feeds into the relationship, and Marcos's engagements in India are expected to highlight Manila's role as a key Southeast Asian partner for New Delhi. The Philippines, facing ongoing challenges in the South China Sea, views partnerships with like-minded countries as critical. India, which has consistently upheld the principle of freedom of navigation and opposed unilateral changes to the status quo in maritime disputes, provides Manila with a supportive partner in this domain. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
India Today
9 minutes ago
- India Today
Curious case of the heavy roller: How it can affect Day 5 of the Oval Test
The Oval Test is perfectly poised for a dramatic end on Day 5 on Monday, August 4. Everyone expected the match to be done and dusted on Sunday as India needed nine wickets and England, who were 50 for 1, needed another 324 runs to seal the win and the series. Things started off well for the visitors as they dismissed Ben Duckett right after he got his fifty before Ollie Pope was trapped in front of the stumps by Mohammed Siraj. advertisementIndian fans were almost in raptures when Siraj caught Harry Brook near the boundary line but the Indian pacer accidentally stepped on the line. Brook made India pay with a brilliant 111 and Root followed it up with his 39th Test hundred. England looked all set for the win, but there was a twist in the tale. Prasidh Krishna got the wickets of Jacob Bethell and Root to get India back into the contest. Just when things got interesting, the weather played spoilsport and both teams returned to the pavilion ready to fight it out on Monday. All four results are possible in the match with England needing 35 runs and India looking for four wickets, with the injured Chris Woakes ready to bat. But here is where England has an advantage, with the use of the heavy roller, something that Harsha Bhogle pointed out in his tweet right after the play stopped on Day 4. "I am glad there are people other than me asking why the covers couldn't have come off in time to allow us to witness an extraordinary climax. Now we come back tomorrow but the heavy roller can be used and that can be a game-changer," tweeted Bhogle. The heavy roller was used just before the start of Day 4 by the hosts and their skipper, Pope and the results were evident. The English batters were scoring freely and the Indian bowlers were made to toil and work hard for breakthroughs. What does the heavy roller do?So, according to the ICC, the pitch may be rolled at the request of the captain of the batting side, for a period of not more than 7 minutes, before the start of each innings, other than the first innings of the match, and before the start of each subsequent day's Test, Day 5 Weather reportThe rolling permitted before play on any day shall be started not more than 30 minutes before the time scheduled or rescheduled for play to begin. The captain of the batting side may, however, delay the start of such rolling until not less than 10 minutes before the time scheduled or rescheduled for play to the important thing is that the choice of the roller (heavy or light) is given to the captain of the batting side. In this case, it will be England's Pope. If he is going to opt for the heavy roller, then it will smoothen out any unevenness on the pitch, essentially making it flat and suitable for batting. While this may be only for a brief period, it plays into the hands of the hosts at the Oval given that they need 35 runs to win. Joe Root, during the press conference, said that the rolling has had an effect on the game so far and is hoping things will work out in their favour if the heavy one is used. "In terms of the roller, we'll see. I haven't got a crystal ball unfortunately, but it has made an impact so far throughout this game. Whether that changes on day five, we'll see, but hopefully it works well in our favor in flattening things out," said Root. advertisementIndia's bowling coach Morne Morkel was unfazed by the prospect of the heavy roller being used, and feels that his well-rested bowlers can get in a good warm-up and go out to chase and get the wickets needed. "Tomorrow we can just focus on doing a good warm-up and get the boys ready to hopefully get the ball in the right area and yeah, create a little bit of excitement again," said Morkel. With the match on a knife-edge, things could all come down to the process of rolling just before the start of play. - EndsTune InMust Watch
