JSW to Set Up Sports Centre
Andhra Pradesh Minister for HRD, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh on Friday announced that the JSW Group will establish a world-class Sports Centre of Excellence in the state to strengthen sports infrastructure and nurture international-level athletes.
During a dinner meeting at his Undavalli residence, Lokesh interacted with athletes selected for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Para Games. He sought their suggestions on improving coaching standards, training facilities and sports infrastructure across Andhra Pradesh. Athletes recalled the state's strong coaching ecosystem before 2019 and urged the government to revive world-class training facilities.
Responding to their suggestions, Lokesh said sports policy should remain consistent regardless of political changes. He assured that the proposed Centre of Excellence, to be developed in collaboration with JSW, would feature international-standard infrastructure and expert coaches to help athletes compete globally.
The minister said the government is also developing district-level sports arenas and promoting modern training methods. He highlighted initiatives such as a 3 per cent reservation for sportspersons in DSC recruitment, the introduction of "No Bag Day" in government schools to encourage sports participation, and special incentives for women athletes.
Lokesh said the government has released ₹2.23 crore to support the training of 18 athletes preparing for international competitions. He urged sportspersons to win medals and bring global recognition to Andhra Pradesh.
