Published: July 11, 2026 at 8:43 pm
From a dinghy, dusty and cluttered room at the Lal Bahadur Stadium to a renovated L Venkat Ram Reddy Olympic Bhavan, the hub of sports administration has come a long way. The newly built building stands as a testimony to the passion and tireless work of late L Venkat Ram Reddy (LVR), who was affectionately known as Bhai Saab.
The new-look Telangana Olympic Association (TOA) building was inaugurated by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha earlier this week and is fittingly named as L Venkat Ram Reddy Olympic Bhavan. Located inside the Lal Bahadur Stadium complex in Basheer Bagh, it was renovated at a cost of ₹1.5 crore. The refurbished Bhavan now has state-of-the-art facilities, along with a statue of hockey legend Dhyan Chand.
Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha unveiling the Dhyan Statue at Telangana Olympic Bhavan in Hyderabad
The man who made this dream come true was Bhai Saab, secretary of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association for a long period of time. LVR along with the then Olympic Association officials, including the then president and Director General of Police late HJ Dora, worked tirelessly to build the Olympic Bhavan in the early part of the 2000.
At the function, eminent sports persons like Pullela Gopichand, N Mukesh Kumar, skater Anup Kumar Yama, rower Ismail Baig, athlete Lavanaya Reddy and other Olympic Association officials like BK Harnath, G Umesh (swimming), Appa Rao (billiards), remembered LVR.
Venkat Ram was man of his words, says Wilson
Valentine Wilson, former sports editor of Deccan Chronicle, was effusive in his praise of LVR. “He was passionate. He was impartial. He was truly a man of his words. No airs and no egos. He never came to the office in fancy cars. He rode an old Bajaj Vespa scooter and a briefcase in tow. There was something rare and a genuine quality about him. He was dapper but strode the corridors of sports administration like a colossus,” said Wilson.
“Bhai Saab would greet people, big or small, with a smile and at times a warm hug. He was a father-figure to many upcoming sportspersons. He was a legend. While he helped and guided many of the smaller sports associations like women’s cricket, kabaddi, kho-kho, fencing, tennikoit, sepak-takraw, wrestling and boxing, it was volleyball that was his heart and soul. He was the man who strove hard to put the then combined Andhra Pradesh sports culture at the forefront,” he added.
Valentine Wilson
Wilson said that LVR was a man on a mission to propagate sports and with a vision to organise sport galas in the state with an unflinching attitude. “Whether it was cricket, football or hockey, his involvement and presence at such events added importance to the stature of these extravaganzas. The sheer dignity of this official was always a blessing and a fruitful episode for every sporting event,” he said.
Recalling an incident, Wilson said: “Once LVR was given the responsibility of re-carpeting and re-grooming the Lal Bahadur Stadium for the Pre-Olympic Football event. His groundsmen worked hard removing the weeds and most of the old grass and replaced it with the fresh carpets of Bermuda grass. Every morning, he would be there to supervise the work and would instruct every one not to step on the grass. and supervise the work. Once N Alaf Khan, secretary of the football association, stepped on the playing area and LVR curtly told him to keep off the grass. Such was his concern.”
Bhai Saab was a role model: Rajaraman
Eminent sports journalist G Rajaraman said LVR’s vision of the Municipal Corporation’s Summer Camps was one of the best things to happen to the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. “Bhai Saab was a guide and philosopher to many young aspiring sportspersons. He showed them the way and nurtured them. Many of the sports persons benefited from the Summer Camps. He had his admirer in Ahmed Moinuddin, who was the secretary of the APOA. Moinuddin guided Bhai Saab initially before the latter rose to become one of the greatest sports administrators,” said the now Delhi-based Rajaraman.
G Rajaraman
“The Summer Camps were started in the 60s and became very popular in the city. There were over 500 grounds, and he ensured that all these grounds, be it in volleyball, gymnastics, athletics, football, cricket, volleyball, basketball, swimming, etc had the best arrangements. For instance, in basketball, there were 10 balls for 50 players. He ensured that no one was left idle. One of the highlights was the morning breakfast serving of boiled eggs and milk. It attracted many young children from the poor communities to take part in the camps. Wherever there was open space, he converted them into playgrounds, I was one of the beneficiaries of Bhai Saab’s summer camp as I was attracted to the game of basketball at YMCA, Narayanaguda,” said Rajaraman.
Speaking about the tireless efforts of Bhai Saab, Rajaraman said: “I remember travelling on his scooter to all the city playgrounds. He would affectionately mix with the coaches, players and officials. He kept everyone happy. He roped in former international, national and state players as coaches. They also benefited financially. Bhai Saab was a role model to many sports persons.”
Swimming coach Umesh said LVR was his guru. “He gave me life and coaches like me benefited from his sports policies. Sadly, most of his policies have disappeared. I remember in the summer all the swimming pools were full to the brim. Even after summer camp, he ensured that children benefited from the pool,” he said.
LVR’s brain worked like a computer, says Prem Raj
For SR Prem Raj, who worked closely with LVR as a deputy director, said although the summer camps were started in the late 50s but it took a proper shape in 1977. “The then chief minister M Chenna Reddy agreed to the proposal of creating a bigger wing for sports in the Municipal Corporation. In 1968, the summer camps had 16 coaches and 416 grounds with facilities for football, volleyball, basketball, kabaddi, cricket and other games. I remember the Victory Playground was buzzing with volleyball activities. Players like Abdul Basith, GE Sreedharan, PV Ramana were products of this VPG camp. Bhai Saab became the director of sports, and we got a separate wing of the Corporation office.
G Umesh
“We used to have long meetings, and Bhai Saab was meticulous in his planning or execution of the work. His brain worked like a computer. He used to remember the names of the coaches, players etc. He had the extraordinary knack of spotting young talent. If he felt that this player could become a big player, he would personally visit their house, convince their parents to send their children to the camps. Most of the open spaces were developed into playgrounds. From Rs 20 lakh the summer camps budget swelled to Rs 1 crore. He was omnipresent till his retirement in 2003 and left a rich legacy,” Prem Raj said.
SR Prem Raj
Prem Raj said LVR was instrumental in the growth of volleyball in the state. “He was closely associated with volleyball and served for a long period of time as secretary. He rose in stature and became the secretary of the then AP Olympic Association. He had that skill to organise events, be it international, national or State. That is Bhai Saab for you.”
He had an unique style of administration: Rizwan
Mohammed Rizwan, former Indian basketball captain, recalled that LVR was a phenomenal administrator. “He had his unique style of administration wherein he made everyone comfortable. He would greet you with ‘Babu’ and then ensure, from beginners to the experienced, they would get the best facilities. Although a volleyball man, with limited financial resources, he ensured all the disciplines get the same treatment. He helped many sportspeople. He would be there at every ground.
Mohd Rizwan
“He always felt the summer camp was the platform for the growth of a sports person. I have seen many players cornering glory after they attended the summer camps. We were very lucky to have a dedicated man like Bhai Saab,” he added.
His love for sports was amazing: Madhav
GV Madhav, a former international volleyball player, stressed that LVR was pure gold as far as sports was concerned. “His love for sports, particularly volleyball, was amazing. He was a genuine person at heart. He had that vision that saw AP grow into a force to reckon in sports. As secretary of AP Volleyball Association, he took pains to give the best facilities. He created teams and grounds for volleyball. Those days we had so many tournaments for A and B Division teams be it leagues or knock outs. The tournaments like Deccan Chronicle, Sports Journalists attracted big crowds to the ground. AP produced numerous internationals in his era and we were the top teams of the country,” he said.
GV Madhav
The former blocker said LVR would leave his Vittalwadi residence early in the morning at 5 am. “It was his relentless pursuit of sports excellence in the city. In fact, I always felt how this man could find so much energy. He could spot a talent and he found the lanky Abdul Basith to be India’s material. He would go in his scooter and later on in his jeep, pick Basith from Mallepally and take him to Victory Playground. In this way he found many talented players. We won the National championship, won gold in the National Games during his time. Sadly, after he stepped down from the office, the game of volleyball declined in the city and the state. Today, we don’t have either local leagues or tournaments. There is hardly any player from the state to play for India. Bhai Saab had excellent man management skills. He knew how to take people along. He had terrific contacts with all, including the chief ministers, ministers, IAS, IPS. He would help many people. That was his secret of his success and the state benefited from his administration.”
Why no statue for LVR, asks Mulini Reddy
Arjuna Awardee Mulini Reddy was happy that the legendary Dhyan Chand statue was installed but said there should have been a statue for Bhai Saab too. “Look at his contribution to sports in the State. There cannot be another Bhai Saab for sure. He is the Godfather to many sports persons. He gave life to many people like me. He sacrificed a lot for sports. Sports in general benefited in many ways. He fought for women’s volleyball. We owe our rise to Bhai Saab. He was so kind that if found a few good talented players not included in the 12-member team, he would extend it to 18 members. Though we lacked the financial resources, he somehow managed to fund the sports persons. Thanks to his generosity, many sports persons got employment.
“I still have those vivid memories where Bhai Saab would go to the ‘bastis’, make children brush their teeth and bring them to the grounds. He always thought sports would be the right way to develop a human personality. Certainly, the state is lacking a sports advisor like Bhai Saab,” she said.
LVR sacrificed his life for sports: Pramod
Coach Pramod Reddy said volleyball was in LVR’s blood. “If there is a perfect example then it is one and only Bhai Saab. He sacrificed his life for sport. I saw this enthusiasm from morning to late in the night, he would work tirelessly. His brain worked for 24 hours for the development for sports. His man management skills were extraordinary. As a young kid I was the beneficiary of the summer camps.
Pramod Reddy
“I and my friend Mehmood would come to YMCA Naryanaguda by bus. Once we got late by five minutes. He saw us and gently asked, ‘Babu why the delay’. We then told that the bus came late. The next moment he went to a bicycle shop, purchased two bicycles for Rs 500 each and gave it to us. We had tears in our eyes,” Pramod said.
Pramod, who became a successful coach, said volleyball was at its prime during his era. “AP was one of the top teams of the country and the reason was simple. We had the best structured volleyball tournaments. We had 20 odd teams. In the city tournaments we had strong teams like Railways, Central Excise, Police, Postal, AOC, Artillery, EME and later on Sports Hostel. Bhai Saab would be present in all the tournaments from the first day to the final. That was his commitment. I wish we had more such Bhai Saabs. But we were fortunate to meet and interact with this gentle soul. Surely, he would surely be smiling from the top.”
