SAAP pledges academy, synthetic court and nutrition support for Tirupati girls' volleyball
TIRUPATI: Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Chairman A. Ravi Naidu on Sunday held an interaction with young women volleyball players from Tirupati district and pledged institutional support aimed at strengthening the sport locally, officials said.
The meeting took place at the Srinivasam Sports Complex in Tirupati, where Mr Naidu listened to the players and their coach, identified as Shanmugam, about their training regimen, infrastructural shortfalls and financial constraints. District Sports Officer Sashidhar and other SAAP officials were directed to monitor the players' requirements and to follow up on implementation, the reporting said.
Players had sought better nutrition, a synthetic volleyball court, modern equipment and improved coaching to help them compete at national and international levels. In response, Mr Naidu outlined a package of support that SAAP will provide to bolster the sport in Tirupati.
- Establishment of a special volleyball academy in Tirupati to offer quality coaching and structured training.
- Construction of a synthetic court to improve practice conditions.
- Provision of sports kits, modern equipment and other essentials for training.
- Daily dietary support for about 40 students who attend morning sessions.
- Facilitation of a corporate tie-up under the CSR programme to secure sustained funding and development.
According to the reports, Mr Naidu praised the players' determination to bring recognition to Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh and the country, and instructed SAAP staff to prepare plans that would address immediate shortfalls as well as longer-term development through the proposed academy.
| Support promised | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Volleyball academy | Plan to establish a special academy in Tirupati for women players |
| Synthetic court | Construction to improve training surface and practice quality |
| Equipment and kits | Modern sports gear and essentials to be provided |
| Nutrition | Daily dietary support for around 40 students attending morning sessions |
| CSR tie-up | Facilitation of corporate partnership to ensure sustained development |
Coaches and players present at the meeting expressed gratitude for the SAAP chairman's positive response, and officials were asked to draw up a timeline and requirements for the promised interventions. The reporting indicates SAAP will prepare plans to provide quality coaching, equipment and nutrition through the proposed academy.
Local stakeholders and residents said the gesture brings renewed hope for a sport that, according to the coverage, has faced persistent financial and infrastructural challenges despite showing talent at district levels. The move to involve CSR partners suggests the state body intends to combine public support with private funding to maintain facilities and programmes over time.
Mr Naidu's directives to the District Sports Officer and SAAP officials include monitoring the players' needs closely and ensuring that immediate supplies and dietary support are put in place while longer-term works, including the synthetic court and academy planning, are initiated.
The assurances come after press coverage highlighted the hardships encountered by the young athletes. With the SAAP commitment now on record, the next steps will be the preparation of detailed plans, identification of space and resources for the academy and court, and formalising any corporate partnerships under CSR structures to guarantee continued support.
For Tirupati — the largest city in the State and a regional sports hub — the proposed academy could offer a pathway for local talent to access structured coaching and better competitive opportunities, if the plans are implemented as indicated by SAAP leadership.
