Telangana DGP inaugurates State Police Sports Meet, announces new five-cluster format
The fifth Telangana State Police Sports Meet-2026 was inaugurated at the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium here with the event being conducted in a new five-cluster format
The fifth Telangana State Police Sports Meet-2026 was inaugurated at the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium here with the event being conducted in a new five-cluster format to encourage wider participation. The sports meet, organised as part of the Telangana Police welfare initiatives, aims to promote physical fitness, mental well-being and sporting excellence among police personnel while identifying athletes capable of representing the State and the country in national and international competitions. Director General of Police C.V. Anand said that after nearly 35 years of conducting all police sporting events at a single venue, Telangana police had adopted a decentralised five-cluster model comprising 21 teams to ensure greater participation from personnel across the State.
He said the new format had been designed on the lines of the All India Police Games and would help identify talented athletes while providing them with systematic coaching and scientific preparation for higher-level competitions. Emphasising the importance of sports in policing, the DGP said physical fitness and mental well-being were essential for an efficient police force. “I may stop policing one day, but I will never stop playing sports,” he said, adding that golf helped him stay mentally refreshed despite a demanding schedule. Anand said Telangana Police had won 21 medals at the previous edition of the All India Police Games and expressed confidence that the tally would improve in future.
He also highlighted the incentives available for medal winners, including cash rewards of ₹3 lakh, ₹2 lakh and ₹1 lakh for gold, silver and bronze medallists respectively, along with special increments. He urged senior officers to identify and encourage talented sportspersons within their units and stressed the need for structured coaching, proper nutrition, physiotherapy and scientific fitness management. Under the new format, competitions in boxing, wrestling, fencing and other indoor events commenced on Wednesday at Saroornagar. Cricket matches will be held at Future City in November, while lawn tennis and badminton competitions will take place at the Telangana Police Academy in September. Volleyball, kabaddi, canoeing, kayaking and cycling events will also be organised at different venues later in the year.
Film actor Naveen Polishetty, who attended as chief guest, said sports helps build both physical and mental resilience. He encouraged police personnel to embrace sportsmanship, stating that participation was more important than winning or losing. Malkajgiri Police Commissioner B. Sumathi welcomed the participants and said discipline, teamwork and sporting spirit are integral to policing. Hundreds of police personnel representing commissionerates, district police units and specialised wings from across Telangana participated in the opening ceremony. The event was also attended by Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, senior police officers, students and sports enthusiasts.
The BriefWire