Hyderabad: Telangana is setting up mini stadiums and sports grounds in all 119 assembly constituencies and plans to build a 1,000-acre satellite sports city to position Hyderabad as a host for Olympic-level events.During the ‘Telangana’s Olympic Gold Quest’ session, sports minister Vakiti Srihari said partnerships with global institutions such as Loughborough University and Korea National Sport University are being pursued to enhance international competitiveness. “The sports policy is bening implemented to increase representation of Telangana athletes in events such as the 2036 Olympics.”An official said that Telangana Sports Hub has been established with athletes, industrialists and govt officials as committee members. “A sports development fund has been set up to further strengthen the Telangana sports system. Sports-tech startups and tourism initiatives are also advancing in collaboration with T-Hub and TS-iPASS,” the official added.Another said schemes such as graded intensives, insurance and guru vandana have been introduced for athletes’ welfare. “To strengthen the system, we are inviting partners through this platform to contribute to the fields of coaching infra, innovation and athlete development,” Srihari added.Officials also said that the Young India Physical Education Sports University and the Young India Sports Authority have been established recently. “We are making efforts to strengthen the system from the school level through Sports Authority of Telangana. Special training centres are being set up for girls and para-athletes, too,” said Srihari.Boost for coaches requiredNoted sportspersons such as PV Sindhu, Jwala Gutta, P Gopichand and Ambati Rayudu pointed out the key role of adequate infrastructure and support for coaches. They highlighted the importance of having stable, well-supported coaches and befitting from the personal experiences of “good coaches.” They stressed the need for developing coaches through proper training and support, adding that govt involvement is essential for grassroots development in India.“Sports policies and discussions often focus only on athletes and winning medals, neglecting the crucial role and welfare of coaches,” said Gutta. Coaches face challenges such as lack of job security, low pay and insufficient development plans, she said, adding there is little govt support or incentives for coaches, which lead many to move between academies to support their families.
