Minister inaugurates Amaravati Championship 2025, vows to revive sports in Andhra Pradesh

Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy said the NDA government is committed to reviving the sports sector, which, he alleged, had been “mired in scams and misrule during the YSR Congress Party regime.”

He was speaking after inaugurating the Amaravati Championship 2025, a State-level sports meet held at SV University’s Tarakarama Stadium in Tirupati on Sunday. Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Chairman A. Ravi Naidu, Managing Director P.S. Girisha, TUDA Chairman C. Divakar Reddy, District Collector S. Venkateswar, and actor Nara Rohith were among those present.

Recalling initiatives under TDP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Minister highlighted the development of sports infrastructure and the hosting of prestigious national events in undivided Andhra Pradesh. In contrast, he alleged, the sector was riddled with controversies during the YSRCP tenure.

Mr. Ramprasad Reddy announced that a 30-acre sports hub would be developed in Tirupati. He also said 450 posts under the sports quota would be filled from the upcoming 16,000 teacher recruitments.

Explaining the change in venue, SAAP Chairman Ravi Naidu said the championship, initially planned for Vijayawada or Visakhapatnam, was shifted to Tirupati due to better accommodation facilities for participants.

According to SAAP MD P.S. Girisha, around 1,300 sportspersons from different zones would compete in 10 categories. District Collector Venkateswar said the events would include archery, weightlifting, boxing, athletics, volleyball, basketball, kabaddi, hockey, kho kho, and shuttle badminton.

Also present were Yadava Corporation Chairman G. Narasimha Yadav, Handicrafts Corporation Chairman Pasupuleti Hariprasad, international hockey player E. Rajani, and District Sports Officer O. Sasidhar.