03/04/2021
Anantapur Sports Academy Wins The Sportstar Aces Award 2021
We are delighted to share with you that our Sports for Development Program, Anantapur Sports Academy (ASA) has won the prestigious Sportstar Aces Award 2021, in the Sport For Good Category.
The Sportstar Aces Awards by Sportstar Magazine and The Hindu Group recognise sporting achievements and efforts to contribute to the country's sporting fabric in equal measure, and ASA is being honoured for its role in tying sports together with attention to social indicators.
Due to the prevailing COVID 19 situation, with the restrictions in place, the award was received by our Program Director, Mr Moncho Ferrer, in the virtual ceremony held on 02-04-2021.
Responding to the recognition, Mr Moncho Ferrer said, “It is a pleasure to receive the Sportstar Aces Award in the category of Sport for Good, our sports program is all about sport for good. Sport is not just sport, it is a powerful tool to promote inclusivity, and bridges the gaps and differences that exist in our society. I appreciate our team at Anantapur Sports Academy for their work over the years and thank the children for their participation. This award reminds us that we are on the right track, and encourages us to work towards realising our vision to leverage the power of sports for the benefit of underprivileged and marginalized children and youth in Anantapur District.”
Sai Krishna Pulluru, Director of Anantapur Sports Academy said, “ Firstly, I would like to thank the Sportstar Aces Awards team for including a Sport for Good category for the first time to acknowledge the efforts of sport for development organizations across India. Personally, I see Sportstar as a magazine that resonates with every Indian who is passionate about sport and Anantapur Sports Academy receiving this recognition from Sportstar under the Sport for Good category is a humbling feeling. On this note, we also thank the support from our local community including parents, schools as well as our numerous partners we have been fortunate to collaborate over the years.”
About the organization:
Rural Development Trust (RDT) is an NGO founded in 1969 committed to promoting the integrated development of underprivileged and marginalised communities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (Southern India). Alongside leading several key interventions, RDT believes that rural children’s participation in sports is necessary for their growth, self-esteem and confidence as well as to address the challenges being faced by them due to the prevailing discrimination and inequalities in rural regions.
RDT has been using sport as a tool for development in the year 1979, by organising sports activities in community schools. The program took a new shape in the year 2000 with the founding of Anantapur Sports Academy (ASA), a sport for development programme.
Currently, ASA delivers programmes in the seven sporting disciplines of cricket, hockey, football, judo, tennis, softball and kabaddi. Through 96 grassroots centres, 3 development centres and a Center of Excellence in Anantapur district, ASA engages more than 6,867 (38% girls) children and youth on a daily basis.
