Telangana hikes Sports Budget by Rs 100 Cr; lauds Siraj, Nikhat and Deepthi

Telangana hikes Sports Budget by Rs 100 Cr; lauds Siraj, Nikhat and Deepthi

An amount of Rs. 465 crore has been allocated for sports in the State, as announced during the annual budget in the Telangana Legislative Assembly here on Wednesday. This is an increase of Rs. 100 crore from the previous budget.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka stated that the government is establishing a Young India Sports University on a 200-acre campus in Hakimpet, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, to nurture and develop world-class athletes. It is expected to house 12 specialised sports academies, offering advanced training across multiple disciplines.

“A state-of-the-art Sports Hub will be developed within the Future City, built to international standards, making Telangana a premier destination for sports excellence. The Sports Hub will feature cutting-edge infrastructure, including a Sports Science Centre and a Sports Medicine Centre, providing scientific training, performance optimisation, and injury management, ensuring holistic athlete development on par with global standards,” he said in his speech.

The deputy Chief Minister lauded the performances of athletes from the state, including Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, boxer Nikhat Zareen, and para-athlete Deepthi Jeevanji, in the past year.

“Mohammed Siraj brought immense pride to the state with his exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup, earning global recognition.”

He also applauded Nikhat for her World Boxing Championships victory. Both Siraj and Nikhat have since been honoured with Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) positions, he added.

The Telangana deputy CM also made special mention of Deepthi’s ‘inspiring journey and contribution to sports’ and reiterated that she has been rewarded with a Group 2 government job.

“Telangana’s young para-athlete Deepthi Jeevanji created history by winning a medal at the 2024 Paralympics, becoming the first woman from the State to achieve this remarkable feat.”

Published on Mar 19, 2025