Protests erupted over the sudden closure of the Kurnool outdoor stadium

Gym users protested the sudden closure of an outdoor stadium in Kurnool on Saturday. | Photo credit: ARRANGEMENT

The sudden closure of the outdoor stadium here on Saturday sparked protests from regular visitors and athletes.

Users of the gym, who gathered at the venue in large numbers, alleged that the facility was closed on the orders of the District Sports Development Officer (DSDO). The move immediately drew opposition from the youth, retired employees, government personnel, police personnel, collector employees and the association of regular morning walkers.

Protesters alleged that the gym had been open to the public for the past few years but had been neglected, leading to damage to the facilities. Nevertheless, regular visitors pooled personal funds to repair old and damaged equipment and to purchase new material for its operation.

The protesters alleged that several rooms were recently allotted to sportspersons and officials tried to vacate the gymnasium and yoga center as well, forcing them to take the matter to the notice of Industries Minister TG Bharath Gupta.

In response to their call that regular users should not be blocked from entering the gym, the secretariat called for a letter directing that the gym and yoga center should not be moved and the remaining rooms should be handed over to the sports and gaming communities.

In this context, Saturday’s development has sparked agitation among public groups. They staged a protest outside the stadium and raised slogans demanding that Minister Bharath Gupta intervene and solve the problem.

Published – 12 Sep 2026 19:38 IST