TG athletes can gain from new sports policy
The comprehensive vision lays stress on strengthening governance, boosting infrastructure, and ushering in a breathtaking sports ecosystem that would result in the emergence of medal-winning athletes. There is no doubt that once he goes about the implementation process and enhances budgetary allocations, there would be smiles on the faces of countless sportspersons, coaches and the support staff. Over a period, Telangana can indeed be the envy of the nation going by the manner it brings about the best of infrastructure and sports avenues, including supporting budding talent coming from the poorer strata. Alas, carried away by the moment, Reddy revealed the politician in him when he spoke rather exaggeratedly that Hyderabad would be fit enough to host some Olympic disciplines by 2036.
This is too ambitious a remark given that preparing grounds and facilities and putting in place infrastructure of an extraordinary kind for the mega event is no child's play. What the city has, as of now, is not sound enough to host even a fraction of the events that feature in Olympics. He should take cue from his political mentor N Chandrababu Naidu, who, in his effort to provide the best of facilities for the 2002 National Games, came up with the finest stadiums and playing surfaces. Budget was no problem. J Jayalalithaa constructed the magnificent JN stadium in nine months.
Can Revanth Reddy emulate these records? The fact is that the stadiums constructed by Naidu like GMC Balayogi athletics stadium, KVBR stadium, tennis complex and the velodrome are all outdated as the wear and tear must have worn them out. They need to be refurbished before the city is good enough to host the National Games two years down the line, towards which Reddy is to approach the Indian Olympic Association.
However, realising the herculean task that lies up ahead, the Chief Minister has played his masterstroke-a Public Private Participation (PPP). This will go a long way in helping him realise the dream of nurturing Olympic gold medallists and world champions across disciplines. Adding to this is the smart move to constitute a 14-member Board of Governors to oversee handling of the Telangana Sports Development Fund (TSDF). Featuring some big names from the world of sports and industry, including Kapil Dev, Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand and Bhaichung Bhutia, it will be headed by industrialist Sanjeev Goenka, which ensures transparent and accountable utilisation of resources that will be raised through the PPP mode.
A good beginning has been made as the state was able to sign MoUs with many keen investors and sponsors. This can help promote exchange programmes with other nations and invest in proven international coaches. Hopefully, this will mark the beginning of rewarding days for sportspersons from Telangana.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Supreme Court relists case where it took judge off criminal cases after 13 Allahabad HC judges protest
Following an unprecedented protest by several judges of the Allahabad High Court, the Supreme Court on Friday will rehear the matter in which it had barred a judge of the Allahabad High Court from hearing criminal cases till his retirement. At least 13 judges of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday sought a full court reference to discuss the SC observations and directions against their colleague, a sitting judge of the HC. It is learnt that one judge moved a letter seeking a full court discussion while 12 of his colleagues signed it. The top court had criticised the HC judge for permitting criminal prosecution in what it said was essentially a civil dispute. The matter will be reheard by a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, which had also passed the August 4 order barring the judge. Sources said there was a view among some of the SC judges that the court could have gone easier in the matter as against the HC judge, and this was conveyed to the CJI. In its August 4 order, the SC asked the Allahabad HC Chief Justice to 'make the concerned judge sit in a division bench with a seasoned senior judge of the high court. We further direct that the concerned judge shall not be assigned any criminal determination till he demits office. If at all at some point in time, he is to be made to sit as a single judge, he shall not be assigned any criminal determination.' The case involved a dispute between a yarn supplier and a cloth manufacturer. Lalita Textile Concern had supplied thread worth Rs 52,34,385 to Shikhar Chemicals, of which Rs 47,75,000 was paid and the rest remained unpaid since August 2019. The owner of Lalita Textile alleged he did not receive payment despite multiple attempts. He moved a magistrate court, which took cognisance of the complaint, and issued summons for the offence punishable under Section 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC. This was challenged before the high court, which dismissed the same. The case then came to the Supreme Court. It said in its verdict: 'With all due deference and humility at our command, we are constrained to observe that the impugned order is one of the worst and most erroneous orders that we have come across in our respective tenures as judges of this court.' The top court added, 'The judge concerned has not only cut a sorry figure for himself but has made a mockery of justice. We are at our wits' end to understand what is wrong with the Indian judiciary at the level of high court. At times, we are left wondering whether such orders are passed on some extraneous considerations or it is sheer ignorance of law. Whatever it be, passing of such absurd and erroneous orders is something unpardonable.' The SC set aside the high court order and remanded the matter to the high court for considering it afresh. The court asked the Chief Justice of the Allahabad HC to assign the matter to any other HC judge.
Indian Express
2 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Can give Modi some advice: Benjamin Netanyahu on dealing with Donald Trump
Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump his 'terrific friends', Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he would give Modi 'some advice but privately' on how to deal with Trump. At the same time, he said, 'There is a basic understanding in the relationship between India and the US. The basis of the relationship is very solid. It will be in the interest of India and the US to arrive at a common ground and resolve the tariff issue. Such a resolution will be good for Israel as well as both countries are our friends.' His remarks came a day after Trump doubled the tariff on India, citing its purchase of Russian oil. In an almost 45-minute interaction with a group of Indian journalists, Netanyahu disclosed that Israel supplied military equipment to India before Operation Sindoor and 'all of them worked well'. He underlined that Israeli equipment used during Operation Sindoor were 'battle proven'. Calling for greater cooperation on intelligence sharing, countering terror and high-technology, he said he would like to 'quickly wrap up mutual defence and economic agreements'. And in significant remarks on the war in Gaza, Netanyahu said, 'Our plan is not to occupy or annex Gaza. Our goal is to destroy Hamas and get our hostages back, and then hand over Gaza to a transitory government. It is clear that we will never hand it over to the Palestinian Authority or Hamas. We will provide overall security. There will be a security perimeter provided by us.' 'We want to end the war very soon. It will be over speedily. If Hamas concedes and lays down their arms and free the hostages, it will be over tomorrow. Even Palestinians in Gaza are fighting Hamas,' he said. 'We want to make Gaza a demilitarised zone. We are looking at ending the war very soon. We are focusing on winning the war. Israel believes Trump should get the Nobel Peace award for ending conflicts and for facilitating Abraham Accords,' he said. On India-Israel defence cooperation, Netanyahu said, 'Israel supplied military equipment to India before (Operation Sindoor). All of them worked well. Israeli equipment used during Operation Sindoor were battle proven. We don't develop them in labs, but on the battlefield. So they are battle-tested. We have robust defence cooperation. It is on a pretty solid foundation.' Asked about cross-border terrorism, he said, 'It is a problem. India is a huge country and it is not easy to have surveillance all over. We are ready to help India on air surveillance systems. Besides intelligence, we need the physical capability to get the terrorists before they strike. You always have to be ahead of the curve. You don't allow them to break you, you have to act before what is likely to come and is being hatched by them.' On India's ties with Israel, Netanyahu said, 'Our relationship with India is very strong and I am saying this from my heart. We are seeking to seize the opportunity for the future.' 'Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, India's so-called policy of neutrality has changed and India and Israel are witnessing great friendship,' he said. He said the 'IMEEC corridor (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) will open up new opportunities in the fast changing geopolitical situation. Israel is looking forward to implementation of the IMEEC and we are ready to cooperate in the project. It will be a corridor for future economic growth in the region. I am very optimistic about it.' On reports and visuals of the food crisis in Gaza, for which he is facing immense criticism from the international community amid allegations of starvation, Netanyahu said, 'We have supplied over 2 million tonnes of food. However, the supplies were interdicted. We let thousands of trucks carrying food go to Gaza. I decided to open up the transit routes for aid trucks. The problem has been with the distribution. Hamas caused the humanitarian crisis.' 'There are examples of children starving, which are fake. The hostages are facing starvation,' he said, referring to the remaining 50 people in captivity in Gaza. On Iran, Netanyahu said, 'We destroyed the nuclear threat and the threat of ballistic missiles. We achieved our aim. We overcame two lumps of cancer. As German Chancellor (Friedrich) Merz said Israel is doing the dirty work for the world. There has been an awakening in Iran against the current rulers. The possibility of internal feud and implosion is very much a possibility in Iran.' 'The axis of evil no longer exists, it has collapsed. Regime change in Iran could be one of the consequences. But it has to come from the Iranian people, they have to rise. But once you pierce the mantle invincibility, cracks appear,' he said. On Israel-India bilateral ties, he said, 'I would like to come to India soon. I miss India. There is huge scope for further expanding our cooperation including in areas such as intelligence sharing, countering terrorism and high-technology. We have developed a lot of technology in screening data and social networks. We are cooperating in this domain with India as well.' 'We would like to quickly wrap up mutual defence and economic agreements,' he said. 'We would like to open up the bureaucratic constraints for Indian workers and caregivers, they are beloved, they are part of our society and family,' he said. 'We would like to have direct flights between Tel Aviv and Bangalore, so that we can reach in 6 hours, that will be shorter than the flight to San Francisco,' he said. — (The reporter is in Israel at the invitation of the Israeli embassy in New Delhi) Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism '2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury's special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban's capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More
Indian Express
32 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Duty-free access to US cotton, agri items' quota likely on talks table
Duty-free market access to US cotton, accepting agricultural items under limited quotas — these are among the possible concessions that the industry has suggested ahead of the crucial round of negotiations later this month when the US team is expected to arrive in India, The Indian Express has learnt. Earlier this month, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had sought suggestions from industry executives on ways to sweeten the trade deal with the US. While some sectors have proposed incentives to accommodate US products, industry sources said the recent escalation in tension between New Delhi and Washington — due to additional tariffs over the Russian oil trade — is turning popular sentiment against a trade deal. Importing duty-free US cotton is one of the areas being suggested to the government, which would also benefit domestic manufacturing amid declining cotton production in the country. Notably, Bangladesh, which has signed a deal with the US, had also offered a similar concession. The US market accounts for nearly 30 per cent of India's total apparel exports. A government official said that quotas for American agricultural items have also been considered, but these do not include genetically modified (GM) products. There is significant resistance to GM crops in India, and only one GM crop — Bt cotton — is approved for cultivation. However, no GM food crop is commercially grown in India. Queries emailed to the Commerce and Industry Ministry on the issue remained unanswered till press time. Meanwhile, following the steep tariff announced by the US, the industry has sought immediate relief — like expansion of the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme to more sectors, and the Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). An exporter who did not want to be named said that established brands are not cancelling orders, but have begun putting them on hold, pending the outcome of negotiations slated for later this month. 'Everybody [US importers] is saying, give us at least three weeks to revert — so, till the US negotiators reach India by August 25, and then maybe some relief could come. Indian exporters can absorb five to seven per cent tariff. Pharma has margins, so the challenge is less there. But in most other areas, margins are low. Other items — say proprietary items like what Apple produces — can withstand the pressure, but footwear and textiles have little margin and the competition is intense,' the exporter said. Another exporter said that higher tariffs could increase exports during the 21-day window. However, if the 50 per cent duty comes into effect, Indian goods will be worse off as compared to China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and most of the other competitors. An executive operating in the gems and jewellery sector said the industry has sought support from the government on the lines of the intervention during Covid, as concerns over imports of rough diamonds still remain and Indian goods may not remain competitive in the US market after 25 per cent tariffs. The Indian Express reported on August 3 that the government has kicked off an exercise to thrash out concessions across sectors that can be offered in the tariff negotiations later this month. Key economic ministries have been asked to examine what they can still afford to offer to sweeten India's deal when the US team visits on August 25. Meanwhile, India has already stepped up its oil imports from the US, with imports jumping over 270 per cent year-on-year in the first four months of 2025. According to data released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), India imported 6.31 million tonnes of US crude in January–April, a sharp increase from 1.69 million tonnes in the same period last year. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More
