Andhra Pradesh Government will soon increase the sports quota to 3%, announced Minister Nara Lokesh during an interactive session “Breaking Boundaries with Nara Lokesh” held with the Indian Women’s Cricket Team.
Lokesh said the government is preparing a 10-year roadmap for sports development in the state. He recalled how under CM Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, united Andhra Pradesh hosted the Afro-Asian Games and built an international standard Sports Village. He added that the present government is working with the same vision for the next decade.
The Minister praised the Indian women cricketers for their remarkable achievements despite limited support in the past. He mentioned their Asian Games Gold Medal (2022), ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup (2025), and seven Asia Cup titles as proof of their strength and talent.
Lokesh appreciated the BCCI for ensuring equal match fees for women cricketers, calling it a big step towards gender equality in sports. He stressed that more efforts are needed at the grassroots level to support young athletes, especially girls.
Making a key announcement, Lokesh said the state government is raising the sports quota to 3% to provide better education and job opportunities for sportspersons. He also highlighted scholarships, annual coaching camps, hostel facilities, travel allowances, and district and state-level competitions to encourage athletes, including para-sportspersons.
Women cricketers suggested flexible academic plans for student-athletes, sports as a subject in schools, more camps in rural areas, and scholarships for underprivileged players.
The event was attended by Mithali Raj, Indian women’s team captain Arun Preet Singh, RCB captain Shruti, Jemin, Deepti Sharma, former cricketer M.S.K. Prasad, Andhra Cricket Association President Kesineni Chinni, Secretary Sana Satish, and Visakhapatnam MP Muthukumilla Sribharat.