“Sepaktakraw to Join Khelo India? Telangana President Pushes for Inclusion”
Hyderabad – Perika Suresh, the newly elected President of the Telangana Sepaktakraw Association, has called for the inclusion of Sepaktakraw in the Khelo India program. On Friday, he submitted a petition to Union Minister for Coal, G. Kishan Reddy, urging the government to recognize Sepaktakraw under Khelo India to foster the development of young athletes, especially at the grassroots level.
Suresh highlighted the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Khelo India initiative, which has already nurtured numerous athletes nationwide. He requested the establishment of Khelo India State Centers of Excellence (KISCE) and Khelo India Accredited Academies in Telangana, emphasizing that these institutions would significantly boost the development of Sepaktakraw and other sports in the state.
Union Minister Kishan Reddy congratulated Perika Suresh on his election as President, succeeding former Minister Mukesh Goud. He acknowledged the potential of Sepaktakraw and assured that the proposal would be considered.
Suresh outlined the achievements of the Indian Sepaktakraw teams, noting that India has won silver in the men’s category and bronze in the women’s category at the Asian Games. He stressed that Sepaktakraw is already a core sport under the School Games Federation of India and All India Universities, making its inclusion in Khelo India a logical step.
The proposed inclusion would provide a platform for talented players, promote the sport at the grassroots level, and enhance India’s chances of securing more international medals. Premraj and other association members participated in the program, expressing their support for Suresh’s initiative.
The Khelo India program aims to develop sports culture at the grassroots level through talent identification, structured competitions, and infrastructure development.
