State-Level Chess league to begin in Tirupati on February 21

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAP) will launch a state-level Chess League in Tirupati on February 21 as part of its broader initiative to nurture sporting talent among school students and prepare them for national and international competitions.

The announcement was made by SAP Vice Chairman and Managing Director B. Bharani during a programme held at Beram Park on Monday, where the league trophy and official mascot were unveiled in the presence of internationally acclaimed chess player Koneru Humpy and Olympic badminton medallist P.V. Sindhu.

Addressing the gathering, Bharani said the ‘SAP League’ has been conceptualised to identify and groom talented athletes from the grassroots level, beginning at the school stage. He stated that the year-long programme will run from February through December, covering multiple sports disciplines across the state. Students from schools in all districts will participate in the competitions, which are being organised in coordination with the School Education Department and the School Games Federation (SGF).

District-level selection tournaments will be conducted, and shortlisted players will qualify directly for state-level competitions. Bharani revealed that nearly 20,000 participants have already registered for the league. Beyond identifying talent, the initiative will also provide selected athletes with specialised training and mentorship to help them evolve into world-class sportspersons on the lines of Koneru Humpy and P.V. Sindhu.

Speaking on the occasion, P.V. Sindhu said Andhra Pradesh has a large pool of talented athletes across various sports, many of whom remain undiscovered due to lack of opportunities. She noted that the SAP League would serve as an effective platform to identify such hidden talent and provide them with advanced coaching and financial support to compete at international levels. Sindhu added that sports have consistently received strong encouragement under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and expressed confidence that the initiative would help produce more international achievers from the state.

Grandmaster Koneru Humpy also welcomed the initiative, stating that the league would play a crucial role in identifying promising players and providing them with structured training and support. She expressed optimism that the programme would help groom future international champions from Andhra Pradesh.