Telangana is on a mission to emerge as a “Global Sports Hub,” said Minister for IT and Industries Duddilla Sridhar Babu. Speaking at a programme after inaugurating the SLV Pro Badminton Stadium at Samathanagar, Nizampet, here on Tuesday, the Minister affirmed that this vision is central to the people-centric governance being led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

“As part of our commitment to making Telangana shine on the global stage, especially at the 2036 Olympics. We have introduced a comprehensive new sports policy. There was a time when cricket dominated the public imagination. Today, that landscape is evolving. Parents and children alike are embracing diverse sports, and mindsets are shifting accordingly," he said. Minister Sridhar Babu said, "Hyderabad was once synonymous with biryani. Now, it’s equally recognised for badminton,".

He praised the legacy of world-class athletes like Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sairaj, all of whom began their journey in Telangana. “Inspired by these champions, many young children are now choosing badminton as a serious career path, representing India at national and international levels. Gopichand's contributions have been instrumental in making Hyderabad the badminton capital of India.”

Underscoring the government’s strong focus on sports, the Minister announced the establishment of the Young India Sports University, targeted for launch in 2026. “We are also working to create sports grounds across every village panchayat and mandal headquarters. Soon, Telangana will host a FIFA-certified girls’ football academy at Gachibowli.” He further added, “Plans are underway to establish dedicated sports schools in each of the ten erstwhile districts of the state.

Our efforts are aimed at identifying and nurturing talent from the grassroots. We are committed to creating opportunities, infrastructure, and mentorship for young athletes to thrive.” As President of the Badminton Association of Telangana, Sridhar Babu also emphasised the association’s ongoing efforts to take badminton beyond Hyderabad into rural areas. He urged parents to encourage their children to pursue any sport they are passionate about, and to support them in developing their potential. The event was also attended by MLA Arikepudi Gandhi, MLC Deshapathi Srinivas and other dignitaries.