Hyderabad: The Telangana Sports Department planned the Khelo Telangana campaign as a continuous initiative to expand the state’s sports culture and encourage daily physical activity.
The Sports Authority of Telangana will implement the programme under the department’s supervision. The initiative aims to make physical activity part of people’s daily lives and promote a healthier society. Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari unveiled the Khelo Telangana poster at an event held at the Secretariat.
State government Sports Adviser AP Jithender Reddy attended the programme. Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan and Sports Authority Managing Director Dr Soni Bala Devi were also present. Telangana Olympic Association secretary Malla Reddy and Sports Authority officials also took part.
Khelo Telangana campaign includes daily fitness drive
As part of the continuous Khelo Telangana campaign, the authorities planned an initiative called “Khelo Telangana Bandhan”. Through the initiative, people will be encouraged to devote at least 30 minutes every day to health and fitness. Moreover, the programme will cover people of all age groups.
The authorities intend to develop it into a public movement. Participants will be encouraged to make suitable physical exercise a regular habit, irrespective of age. The Khelo Telangana Bandhan initiative will also feature a 9+9+9 Fitness Challenge. Under the challenge, participants can take part in walking, jogging, yoga and other physical activities.
They will then post a 27-second video of their activity on their social media platforms. Participants will tag nine friends and invite another nine people to take up the challenge. Thus, the programme seeks to spread the fitness message from one person to another.
The Sports Authority also planned league competitions in several disciplines under the Khelo Telangana campaign. The move is intended to develop Khelo Telangana as a continuous sports movement rather than a one-time programme.
The leagues will seek to increase opportunities for people to participate in sports, beginning at the school level. They will also cover participants across different age groups. In addition, the leagues aim to increase awareness and interest in different sporting disciplines. The initiative also seeks to broaden spectator interest in these sports.
The Sports Authority was considering competitions in wrestling, boxing, volleyball, table tennis and judo. Basketball, athletics, football, cycling and yogasana were also among the proposed disciplines. Competitions in some additional sports were also being considered.
Khelo Telangana campaign targets wider participation
The Khelo Telangana campaign will be developed through phased and continuous activities. It aims to make fitness a part of people’s lifestyles and bring sports closer to the public.
Another objective is to provide platforms for sporting talent. At the same time, the initiative seeks to build a strong sports culture across Telangana. Srihari, Jithender Reddy, Jayesh Ranjan and Soni Bala Devi appealed for broad participation to make the initiative successful.
They called on sports enthusiasts, athletes, students and young people to take part. Educational institutions, sports associations and fitness enthusiasts were also urged to participate. They further sought the involvement of the entire sporting community across Telangana.