Summary: Miscellaneous Gk About Andhra Pradesh

Introduction

• Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) leads sports development in the state under the AP Sports Policy 2024-2029.
• State efforts include building and upgrading stadiums, establishing academies, and improving play fields and equipment.
• Regional indoor/outdoor stadiums and academies are focused at Visakhapatnam, Amaravati and Tirupati.
• kho kho and kabaddi are widely played across Andhra Pradesh.

Important Sports Grounds and Training Centers

• Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam: Major cricket venue in Visakhapatnam that hosts international fixtures (example cited: India vs South Africa ODI on 6 December 2025).
• Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad: Major cricket stadium located in Hyderabad (Telangana), not in Andhra Pradesh.
• Anantapur Sports Village: 40-acre sports academy on NH 7; hosts the Nadal Educational & Tennis School (NETS) run by the Rafa Nadal Foundation since 2010.
• Indira Gandhi Stadium, Vijayawada: Formerly Municipal Stadium; hosted an India vs West Indies ODI in 2002 and is planned for modernization with support through Khelo India (2025).
• Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy Stadium, Anantapur: Cricket ground originally named District College Stadium, later dedicated to Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (sixth President of India); has hosted various cricket matches.

Sports Personalities

• Pullela Gopichand: Born 16 November 1973; former Indian badminton player and Chief National Coach; winner of the All England Open Badminton Championships (2001); founder of the Gopichand Badminton Academy; recipient of the Arjuna Award (1999), Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2001), Padma Shri (2005), Dronacharya Award (2009) and Padma Bhushan (2014).
• V. S. Laxman: Born 1 November 1974; former Indian cricketer and Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA); right-hand aggressive batsman noted for match-winning and saving innings; scored 281 vs Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001; awarded the Padma Shri (2011); one of the few players with 100 Tests and no World Cup appearance.
• Humpy Koneru: Born 31 March 1987 in Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh; Indian chess grandmaster who crossed 2600 Elo in 2007; became the youngest woman grandmaster in 2002 (age 15 years, 1 month, 27 days); winner of the Women's World Rapid Championship in 2019 and 2024.
• Karnam Malleswari: Born 1 June 1975; retired Indian weightlifter and the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal; awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1995) and Padma Shri (1999); appointed first Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Sports University in 2021.
• Saina Nehwal: Born 17 March 1990; top Indian badminton singles player and former world No. 1 with over twenty international titles including ten Superseries titles; first Indian female world No. 1 (2015); Olympic bronze medallist (London 2012) and three-time Olympian.
• Shyam Sunder Rao: Former Indian volleyball player and coach; recipient of the Arjuna Award and the Dronacharya Award (1995).
• S. K. Prasad (Mannava Sri Kanth Prasad): Born 1975 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh; right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper who rose from Andhra Pradesh cricket to national recognition and later served as BCCI Chief National Selector (2016-2020).
• Srikanth Kidambi: Prominent Indian badminton player; rose to fame by defeating Lin Dan at the 2014 China Open Super Series Premier; trains at the Gopichand Badminton Academy; supported by the GoSports Foundation; won silver at the 2021 BWF World Championships and captained India's Thomas Cup-winning team in 2022.