Azharuddin calls for greater investment in youth and sports development in Telangana
Hyderabad: Minister for Minorities Welfare and Public Enterprises Mohammed Azharuddin called for greater investment in youth and sports in Telangana on Saturday. He also urged reforms to sports administration, citing coordination problems caused by multiple federations governing the same sport.
Speaking at the Bharat Summit 2026 at HICC Novotel on November 14, Azharuddin stressed the importance of education, skills and entrepreneurship. He said these areas, alongside sports development, were essential to building a self-reliant state.
The former Indian cricket captain addressed a panel discussion titled ‘Telangana Rising – Youth and Politics’. During the session, he outlined priorities for youth empowerment, rural sporting talent and institutional reform.
Investment in youth and sports must reach rural athletes
Azharuddin said investment in youth and sports must extend beyond major cities to villages, towns and districts across Telangana. “Sporting talent is not confined to major cities; deserving athletes emerge from villages, towns, and districts across Telangana,” he said.
He noted that India had expanded its sporting infrastructure over the years. However, he stressed that identifying and developing talented athletes outside urban centres remained a major priority.
According to Azharuddin, rural athletes needed early recognition, professional coaching and dependable sports facilities. He emphasised that access to these resources was necessary to nurture promising talent across the state.
The Minister also identified the proposed Sports University as an important institution for strengthening Telangana’s sporting infrastructure. He said developing qualified coaches should receive priority because professional training was central to building a sustainable sporting culture.
Investment in youth and sports requires administrative reforms
Azharuddin also raised concerns about the functioning of sports federations and their impact on sporting development. He pointed out that multiple federations representing a single sport had historically caused administrative confusion. Such arrangements had disrupted coordination between government departments, sports organisations and sponsors.
Therefore, he called for greater transparency and a unified administrative framework to improve coordination and strengthen the sporting ecosystem. Beyond sports administration, Azharuddin highlighted education as a foundation for individual advancement and national progress.
He stressed the need to provide young people with quality education, practical skills and confidence to face emerging economic challenges. He also called for stronger support for entrepreneurship and skill development as part of broader youth empowerment efforts.
His remarks at the summit linked sports development with educational opportunities, institutional reform and the need to prepare Telangana’s youth for economic challenges.