Andhra Pradesh to Raise Sports Quota to 3 percent, Says Nara Lokesh
Andhra Pradesh will soon increase the sports quota to 3 percent, announced Minister Nara Lokesh during the “Breaking Boundaries with Nara Lokesh” interactive session held with the Indian Women’s Cricket Team.
Interacting with leading women cricketers, Minister Nara Lokesh said the government is preparing a 10-year roadmap for sports development in the state.
“Under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, the united Andhra Pradesh successfully hosted the Afro-Asian Games and established an international-standard Sports Village. Similarly, our government will work on a planned roadmap for sports development in the next decade,” he stated.
The Minister also highlighted the success of the recently organized “Yogandhra” program, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call, and added that special efforts would be made to encourage sports at the grassroots level. He stressed that parents must change their mindset to support girls pursuing careers in sports.
Praising women cricketers, Minister Nara Lokesh acknowledged their struggles and achievements. “For a long time, women’s cricket was seen as secondary to men’s cricket. Despite lack of media coverage, facilities, and support, you persevered and transformed the perception of Indian cricket with your remarkable performances,” he said.
He cited the Asian Games Gold Medal (2022), the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup (2025), and seven Asia Cup victories as examples of their accomplishments. “These are not just victories but a testament to the extraordinary strength and talent within you,” he remarked.
Commending the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Minister said, “The initiative to provide equal match fees and pay parity for women cricketers is truly commendable. This is a key step towards removing gender disparities in sports. But this is just the beginning—grassroots facilities and wider encouragement are essential to fulfill the sporting dreams of young girls.”
Making a major announcement, Minister Nara Lokesh declared that the Andhra Pradesh government will increase the sports quota to 3 percent, which will significantly expand education and employment opportunities for athletes.
“We have also introduced scholarships, annual coaching camps, hostel facilities, travel allowances, and competitions at district and state levels to encourage budding sportspersons, including para-athletes,” he added.
During the interaction, women cricketers shared their suggestions, including the need for flexible academic curricula for student-athletes, creation of a strong sports ecosystem from inter-school to national levels, provision of scholarships and sports kits for underprivileged players, and organization of special sports camps in rural areas to identify talent. They also recommended that sports be introduced as a dedicated subject in the education system.
The event was attended by international cricketer Mithali Raj, Indian women’s team captain Harmanpreet Singh, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Shruti, middle-order batter Jemin, Deepti Sharma, international cricketer M.S.K. Prasad, Andhra Cricket Association President Kesineni Chinni, Secretary Sana Satish, and Visakhapatnam MP Sribharath, among others.
Interacting with leading women cricketers, Minister Nara Lokesh said the government is preparing a 10-year roadmap for sports development in the state.
“Under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, the united Andhra Pradesh successfully hosted the Afro-Asian Games and established an international-standard Sports Village. Similarly, our government will work on a planned roadmap for sports development in the next decade,” he stated.
The Minister also highlighted the success of the recently organized “Yogandhra” program, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call, and added that special efforts would be made to encourage sports at the grassroots level. He stressed that parents must change their mindset to support girls pursuing careers in sports.
Praising women cricketers, Minister Nara Lokesh acknowledged their struggles and achievements. “For a long time, women’s cricket was seen as secondary to men’s cricket. Despite lack of media coverage, facilities, and support, you persevered and transformed the perception of Indian cricket with your remarkable performances,” he said.
He cited the Asian Games Gold Medal (2022), the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup (2025), and seven Asia Cup victories as examples of their accomplishments. “These are not just victories but a testament to the extraordinary strength and talent within you,” he remarked.
Commending the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Minister said, “The initiative to provide equal match fees and pay parity for women cricketers is truly commendable. This is a key step towards removing gender disparities in sports. But this is just the beginning—grassroots facilities and wider encouragement are essential to fulfill the sporting dreams of young girls.”
Making a major announcement, Minister Nara Lokesh declared that the Andhra Pradesh government will increase the sports quota to 3 percent, which will significantly expand education and employment opportunities for athletes.
“We have also introduced scholarships, annual coaching camps, hostel facilities, travel allowances, and competitions at district and state levels to encourage budding sportspersons, including para-athletes,” he added.
During the interaction, women cricketers shared their suggestions, including the need for flexible academic curricula for student-athletes, creation of a strong sports ecosystem from inter-school to national levels, provision of scholarships and sports kits for underprivileged players, and organization of special sports camps in rural areas to identify talent. They also recommended that sports be introduced as a dedicated subject in the education system.
The event was attended by international cricketer Mithali Raj, Indian women’s team captain Harmanpreet Singh, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Shruti, middle-order batter Jemin, Deepti Sharma, international cricketer M.S.K. Prasad, Andhra Cricket Association President Kesineni Chinni, Secretary Sana Satish, and Visakhapatnam MP Sribharath, among others.