More than 600 youth complete Hindu FIC-AM/NS Cricket Training Camp

O. Naresh Kumar, Vice President, IT Park Association, Vizag, and DS Varma, HR Head, Vizag Asset, AM/NS India, distribute certificates to participants of the valedictory function of The Hindu FIC-AM/NS India Cricket Summer Camp 2026 at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. | Photo credit: V. RAJU

The month-long Hindu FIC–ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AM/NS) India Cricket Summer Camp 2026, organized in association with the Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (VDCA), concluded at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. More than 600 budding cricketers from across the city, including more than 500 boys and more than 100 girls, have completed the coaching programme.

Around 2,000 entries were made for the camp, which was held from May 2 at VDCA B Ground, MCV Ground, Coromandel Ground and Steel Plant Ground. A total of 36 trainers trained the selected participants. Attendees gathered at ACA-VDCA Stadium for the valedictorians while parents watched from the gallery. The certificates were distributed in the presence of representatives of The Hindu, AM/NS India and VDCA.

O. Naresh Kumar, Vice President, IT Park Association, Vizag, addressed the gathering as the chief guest and congratulated The Hindu, AM/NS India and VDCA for sustaining the program for three decades and thanked the parents for encouraging their children to take up sports.

“Sports teaches mental strength. One day you hit a six, the next day you are out for a duck. It teaches you how to handle success and failure,” said Mr Kumar.

He emphasized that modern cricket requires more than technical skills and urged youngsters to focus on physical fitness, nutrition and mental toughness. In particular, he urged female cricketers to pay attention to their health, noting that deficiencies in hemoglobin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D are common in young girls and can affect their sports performance.

He also called for more investment in sports infrastructure in Visakhapatnam and said the city’s rapid growth across sectors should be accompanied by better facilities for budding sportspersons.

DS Varma, Head – HR, Vizag Asset, AM/NS India thanked the coaches and officials for their efforts in conducting the camp successfully. He highlighted the contribution of VDCA to Indian cricket and noted that the association has produced several national level cricketers and Ranji Trophy players.

Highlighting the initiative’s legacy, VDCA Secretary K. Parthasaradhi said the summer coaching camp and The Hindu trophy completed 30 years and said “talented players identified during the program will be considered for the annual coaching camps starting in July.”

Speaking on the occasion, Sumit Bhattacharjee, Chief of the Andhra Pradesh Presidency, told The Hind that the camp has become an important platform for nurturing young talent over the past three decades. “If you want to achieve greatness, it takes dedication, determination and constant practice,” he said, advising youngsters to maintain a balance between academics and sports.

VDCA Vice Presidents D. Sanjeev, SRK Prasad, N. Srinivasa Raju, VDCA Treasurer P. Bhogendra Babu, ACA Ground Commander JKM Raju and Joint Secretary CP Reddy were present.

Published – 31 May 2026 21:39 IST