Telangana signs MoUs with North East states to boost sports development
The Sports Authority of Telangana signed multiple MoUs with North East states during the Telangana–North East Connect Sports Festival. Agreements include training support from Baichung Bhutia, Saritha Devi and others, marking a milestone in sports development and cooperation between Telangana and the region
Published Date - 23 November 2025, 06:42 PM
Hyderabad: The Sports Authority of Telangana signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the States of the North-East Region to enhance sports development here on Sunday.
This is part of the efforts of the Telangana–North East Connect Sports Festival, an initiative of the Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.
Some of the MoUs included one for mutual sports development with the Mizoram Government, one with football legend Baichung Bhutia for conducting special training classes in the Telangana Sports School Academy, one with Tripura Arjuna Awardee Debnath for special training in gymnastics, Manipur’s Arjuna Awardee L Saritha Devi for boxing training, and one with the Manipur Judo Association for the development of judo.
“These MoUs were signed in the presence of Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, and are expected to significantly benefit the training of Telangana’s sportspersons and coaches,” informed Ms Soni Bala Devi, SATG VC & MD.
“We believe that these agreements will serve as milestones in the advancement of sports in Telangana,” she said.
The three-day sports festival concluded on a grand note with sports representatives from the North Eastern states expressing gratitude to the Sports Authority of Telangana.
In the football competitions held at the Gachibowli Main Stadium, Telangana’s women’s team defeated the North East team 2–0, while in the men’s category, the North East team defeated Telangana 2–0.
Indian football legend Baichung Bhutia and Sports Authority Chairman Shiv Sena Reddy, along with MD Dr Soni Bala Devi, inaugurated the matches.
The winners were felicitated by Mizoram Sports Minister Lalling Lova Hmar, Advisor (Sports) Government of Telangana A P Jitender Reddy, Sports Authority MD Dr Soni Bala Devi, and Arjuna and Dronacharya awardees from the North East.