Gymnastics students stage a silent protest at Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: K.R Deepak
Students of the Visakhapatnam Coastal Gymnastics Association, along with their parents, staged a silent protest, holding placards, on Sunday calling for the protection of their long-standing gymnastics training facility at the Pandurangapuram Indoor Stadium. More than 60 people participated in the silent protest that was held alongside the Olympic Day Run.
The protest comes in response to a proposal to convert the specialised gymnastics centre into a multi-sport complex adjoining the Officers’ Club in Pandurangapuram.
The centre has served as one of the three dedicated gymnastics training spaces in the State under the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh. It currently trains around 130 students, including 30 State-level gymnasts and four national medalists.
On Saturday, a delegation of parents met with the District Collector to present a formal appeal. They highlighted the importance of preserving the facility in its current form, citing its track record in nurturing young gymnasts from across the North Andhra region. The Collector gave the group a patient hearing and assured them that the matter would be looked into.
The Pandurangapuram Indoor Stadium, inaugurated in 1986 by the then District Collector KV Rao under the aegis of the District Sports Council, was established with the intention to provide focused spaces for individual sporting disciplines. Gymnastics, referred to in coaching circles as a foundational sport due to its emphasis on strength, balance and flexibility, has flourished at the venue.
Parents expressed concern that reconfiguring the facility to accommodate multiple sports would compromise the safety and specificity required for gymnastics training.
Sports experts also highlighted that gymnastics as a sport requires specialised flooring and equipment, which cannot be met in a shared setting.
Published – July 14, 2025 08:52 am IST
