SAAP chairman A. Ravi Naidu addressing a media conference in Tirupati on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar
Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) chairman A. Ravi Naidu on Thursday (August 27, 2026) said that the NDA alliance regime has proven to be a “golden era” for sports in the State.Addressing a media conference in Tirupati on the sidelines of the ongoing Amaravati Championship, he listed the improvements made to sports infrastructure in the State, as well as the employment provided under the sports quota in DSC 2025.“While sports proved to be a dampener during the erstwhile YSRCP regime, sportspersons are better placed today,” he said.Mr. Naidu accused former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of relegating sports to the backburner, he flayed YSRCP of playing ‘petty politics’ over jobs offered under sports quota.He termed the ‘Amaravati championship’, in which 1,120 matches were conducted in 29 venues across Tirupati, as a huge success. 14,500 players participated in twelve sporting events during the championship. He also announced cash incentives to the tune of ₹8 crore to the players. Published - August 27, 2026 08:51 pm IST
