Hyderabad: Labour and Mines Minister G. Vivek Venkatswamy inaugurated the Spotlight Cricket Ground at Pratap Singaram on February 28, 2026, and called for a stronger focus on sports among the youth.
First, the Minister formally opened the facility by cutting the ribbon and releasing balloons. He congratulated the organisers for developing a quality cricket ground in the area. He also praised their efforts to promote sports at the grassroots level.
While addressing students and young players, he said education must go hand in hand with sports. Moreover, he urged the youth to reduce excessive television and social media use and spend more time on playgrounds. According to him, sports improve physical fitness and build discipline and team spirit. He further stated that cricket unites people across the country and continues to enjoy wide popularity.
The Minister recalled Narsimha Reddy’s involvement in cricket over the past two decades. In addition, he expressed happiness that Ranjith is emerging as a promising player. Referring to his tenure as President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association, he said he worked to develop cricket grounds in the city’s outskirts and expand the sport to remote regions. Furthermore, he noted that organisers recently conducted cricket matches in the name of Kaka Venkatswamy.
Spotlight Cricket Ground inauguration highlights rural sports push
Referring to recent changes in cricket, the Minister advised young players to use emerging opportunities in the sport. At the same time, he mentioned the Supreme Court guidelines and said cricket passes should not exceed 15 per cent.
He also stated that he established a cricket ground in his native area of Moinabad, which is receiving a positive response from local youth. Additionally, he shared a personal anecdote about travelling by scooter to play cricket during his days at Osmania Medical College. He emphasised that providing coaching facilities in rural areas will help identify and nurture hidden talent.
Later, the Minister visited the Zilla Parishad High School at Pratap Singaram. On the occasion of National Science Day, he inspected the science exhibition that students organised and interacted with them about their models and experiments. Finally, he appreciated their efforts and encouraged them to excel in academics as well as sports.