Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday announced that the LB stadium and Gachibowli stadium will be upgraded to international standards to host national and global sporting events in the future.He made the announcement while inaugurating the first edition of the Telangana legislators’ sports and cultural meet-2026 at LB Stadium, reviving a tradition of sporting events for the chief minister, deputy chief minister, ministers, MLAs and MLCs that existed in the undivided state. The chief minister said the event was not just about competition but about fostering camaraderie among public representatives. He also said the Begumpet hockey ground would be upgraded. “Two of my cabinet colleagues Mohammed Azaruddin and Vakiti Srihari were trained in the famous LB stadium and played for international and Ranji cricket events respectively. The LB stadium served as a platform to demonstrate magnificent sportsmanship. Unfortunately, this stadium was used as the venue for political events during the previous govt tenure,” he said. Revanth urged students to pursue sports alongside academics and assured full govt support to those choosing sports as a career. He also took exception to attempts by the opposition to create controversy over the visit of football star Lionel Messi to Hyderabad, saying the event enhanced the city’s global prestige. Legislators from across political parties participated in the opening ceremony of the two-day meet, which features events such as kabaddi, chess, athletics, volleyball, carrom and football, along with cultural programmes. On the occasion, the chief minister released the brochure of the ‘Fit Telangana campaign’. Legislative council chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy delivered the welcome address, while assembly speaker G Prasad Kumar and deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka were also present.
