Gadwal: Students and Youth Encouraged to Excel in Sports
District Collector B.M. Santosh emphasized the importance of encouraging students and youth to succeed in sports, from the rural level to the international stage. On Saturday, the District Collector, along with SP Thota Srinivasa Rao and Gadwal MLA Krishna Mohan Reddy, lit the torch for the “CM Cup 2024” at Sangala Park. They also flagged off a rally that saw a large number of youth participating. The rally started from Sangala Park and moved towards the Gadwal Collectorate.
During the event, the District Collector explained that the torch rally was part of a statewide effort to promote the CM Cup 2024. The goal of the program is to discover and nurture sports talent from villages, ensuring that athletes from Telangana can eventually compete on the global stage, including events like the Olympics. The CM Cup aims to select skilled athletes at different levels, from village to district, and support them in reaching state, national, and international competitions.
The government plans to offer special incentives and even government jobs to athletes who perform well in sports. As an example, the District Collector mentioned that athletes like Nikhat Zareen, an Olympian, and Mohammad Siraj, a T20 World Cup cricket winner, were recently appointed to high-ranking positions like DSP. He also pointed out that sports are no longer just recreational activities but have become professional careers. Sports not only promote physical health but also help individuals become mentally stronger.
SP Thota Srinivasa Rao added that sports play a key role in building both physical fitness and mental strength. He noted that excelling in sports can open up better opportunities for joining the police force, which requires a balance of mental and physical strength. He assured that the government is dedicated to supporting young athletes, starting from the village level, through the CM Cup program.
Gadwal MLA Krishna Mohan Reddy highlighted the main goal of the CM Cup 2024: identifying and encouraging talented athletes from villages, mandals, and districts. He promised that all athletes at these levels would be given the opportunities they deserve. He also expressed his hope that athletes from Gadwal would be selected for state-level competitions, and later, that they would represent Telangana in the Olympics.
Additional officials, including Additional Collector Lakshmi Narayana, Battalion DSP Raghunath Chauhan, District Sports Officer B.S. Anand, along with athletes, were also present at the event.
