The Anantapur Sports Academy, a sport for development initiative was felicitated with the ‘Best NGO Promoting Sport’ accolade at the India Sports Awards part of the Turf 2018. The Anantapur Sports Academy (ASA) is a sport for development initiative by the Rayalaseema Development Trust (RYDT).

The event was hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi. It is an annual occasion where institutions from both the private and public sector are acknowledged for their efforts in the development of sports in the country.

The award was presented to Sagar Murthy, Chairman of RYDT and Vamshi Origanti, Grassroots Coordinator of ASA, by Vijay Goel, Minister of State, Government of India.

“It gives me immense pleasure to receive the award from FICCI as it is the first award recognizing our work in grassroots and rural sports. It is a great motivation and an encouragement for us going forward and hopefully it is the first of many awards to come.” said Vamshi Origanti.

Moncho Ferrer, the Program Director of Anantapur Sports Academy stated: “The FICCI TURF award is a recognition of our continuous efforts to ensure the ‘Right to Play’ for children and youth in the rural regions of Anantapur since the year 2000. Thank you to all our supporters, partners and staff. Above all, we are grateful to all the parents and children that have trusted us in this journey."

The Anantapur Sports Academy is a non-profit organisation that reaches out to close to 9,000 children from marginalised communities in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, 36% of whom are girls. It provides them with sports infrastructure, education, coaching and nutrition. A special emphasis is placed on increasing the participation of girls to bridge the gender gap in the district.

Currently, ASA runs programmes in the sporting disciplines of football, hockey, cricket, judo, softball, kho-kho and kabaddi through its 130 centers across the Anantapur district. Their vision is based around building a sporting culture in Anantapur, by providing children and youth access to their Right to Play with the aim of ‘Sports for All’ RYDT was founded in 1969 by Vicente and Anne Ferrer.