108 Champions Honoured for Their Achievements
Hyderabad, April 12, 2026: Telangana is witnessing rapid growth in Sepak Takraw, with its young athletes making their mark on the international stage, according to speakers at a grand felicitation programme held here on Sunday.
In what is being described as a landmark event in the state’s sporting history, as many as 108 Sepak Takraw players were felicitated at a colourful ceremony organised at Victory Play Ground. The event was held under the leadership of Perik Suresh, President of the Telangana Sepak Takraw Association and National Joint Secretary.
Prominent dignitaries who graced the occasion as chief guests included former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Rajya Sabha member Dr. K. Lakshman, BJP Telangana State President N. Ramchander Rao, President of the Sepak Takraw Federation of India Chandrakant Babu Kawlekar, and International Vice-President Prenraj.
The highlight of the programme was the special felicitation accorded to Akula Harinath, the young Telangana athlete who won a gold medal for India at the South Asia Sepak Takraw Championship held in Colombo. Speakers praised Harinath’s achievement as a shining example of hard work, dedication, and Telangana’s sporting talent, stating that it would serve as a major inspiration for the youth.
Dignitaries also specially honoured several other accomplished athletes, including those who won gold medals at the Asian Games — Minam Vikesh, K. Anitha, Sameena Begum, R. Navatha, and A. Tarangini. Veterans who have brought laurels to the country at the international level, such as P. Gopal Krishna, D. Ravindra, Ram Mohan, Ashish Raj, B. Rajender, Habib Khan, Farooq Qureshi, and others, also participated in the event.
Addressing the gathering, speakers expressed pride over the fast-paced development of Sepak Takraw in Telangana and lauded the emerging players for their impressive performances at the global level. They hoped that such recognitions would encourage more youngsters to take up the sport seriously.
Perik Suresh announced that a Summer Camp would be organised from April 25 onwards to promote Sepak Takraw among students and youth across the state.
The programme concluded with a call to recognise and nurture sporting talent in Telangana, aiming to produce more international champions in the future.
This grand felicitation ceremony stands as a proud moment for Telangana’s sporting fraternity.
