Hyderabad: Telangana Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari directed officials to complete preparations for the Khelo India Games, scheduled across the state from December 11 to 22. During a review meeting at the Secretariat on Friday, he assessed venue readiness, athlete selection, training arrangements and other requirements for the national sporting event.
Srihari called on all departments to coordinate their work and finish arrangements well before the competitions begin. In particular, he stressed that athletes, coaches and delegates arriving from across the country must receive adequate facilities without inconvenience.
The minister said the state government was treating the Khelo India Games as a major sporting event. Accordingly, he called for advance planning and clear responsibilities for officials to prevent gaps in the arrangements. He also stressed the need to provide athletes with accommodation, transport and medical assistance.
Khelo India Games selection covers 27 sporting disciplines
Srihari said the government aimed to identify promising athletes in rural areas and prepare them for national-level competition. To achieve this, officials were conducting a phased selection process across 27 disciplines, using ratios of 1:4, 1:2 and 1:1.
Furthermore, he directed officials to maintain transparency throughout the selection process and offer opportunities based on sporting performance. Rather than limiting the effort to hosting the competitions, he called for a long-term plan to help Telangana athletes compete for medals at national events.
The minister also instructed officials to identify venues and stadiums for the Khelo India Games. They must complete infrastructure work, arrange sports equipment and provide other essential facilities within the prescribed deadlines.
Alongside infrastructure preparations, Srihari emphasised quality training and proper nutrition. He asked officials to arrange nutritious food and coaching to improve athletes’ fitness and performance. He also called for suitable medical support, accommodation and transport.
The minister said Telangana wanted to organise the Khelo India Games through careful planning and adequate athlete support. In addition, he said the event should encourage greater interest in sports among the state’s youth and contribute to the development of its sporting sector.
The review meeting was attended by state government sports adviser and Telangana Association president A.P. Jitender Reddy, Sports Authority of Telangana chairman Sivasena Reddy, and vice-chairman and managing director Soni Baladevi.
Other participants included Telangana Olympic Association secretary Mallareddy, Praveen Kumar Mallareddy, deputy directors Ravinder, Raviteja, Ashok and Srinivas, and engineer Srinivas.