AP Seeks Full Central Support for Amaravati Sports City with International Standards

New Delhi: Education Minister Nara Lokesh has met Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, urging him to provide full support for the construction of a sports city in Amaravati on international standards.
During his visit to New Delhi on Monday, Lokesh emphasized that the state government is focused on developing sports and creating world-class training facilities. He sought collaboration to make Andhra Pradesh a leading sports hub, both nationally and internationally.
Lokesh highlighted the need for support at the grassroots level in schools and villages to foster sports development. The education minister revealed plans to establish Centres of Excellence near Guntur to focus on athletics, archery, and weightlifting, as well as centres for hockey and shooting.
The education minister called for swift approval from the Union sports ministry for 39 projects worth `341.57 crore, which are part of the Khelo India initiative aimed at enhancing sports infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh. Lokesh also sought the establishment of a regional centre for the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Tirupati and a state-level centre for athletics and wrestling.
Furthermore, Lokesh urged the government to provide railway sports concession passes to athletes nationwide and central assistance in developing ESI hospitals across the state. Responding positively, Mandaviya agreed to expand the services of ESI hospitals in Andhra Pradesh while promising full central support for transforming AP into a leading sports hub.
In this move, both Lokesh and Mandaviya believe that sports infrastructure development is crucial for fostering athletes and promoting a culture of sports in the state.