Lucknow: On the occasion of National Sports Day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ambitious expansion of sports infrastructure across the state, pledging the establishment of a sports college in every commissionerate along with Centres of Excellence for various disciplines.
Paying tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, the Chief Minister said, “Every sportsperson is a hero for society. Discipline, dedication, and teamwork that come from sports should inspire citizens in nation-building.”
At the event, CM Yogi felicitated 88 medal-winning athletes from national competitions, distributed appointment letters to assistant sports trainers, and launched new sports facilities across districts. He also inaugurated multiple infrastructure projects, including hostels, gyms, multipurpose halls, and synthetic hockey fields in Azamgarh, Basti, Gorakhpur, Banda, Mau, and Pilibhit.
Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s rich hockey legacy, CM Yogi recalled stalwarts like Major Dhyan Chand, KD Singh ‘Babu’, and Mohammed Shahid, adding that Paris Olympics medalists Lalit Upadhyay and Rajkumar Pal are recent icons from the state.
He underlined the state’s new sports policy, ensuring better coaching, infrastructure, and 2% reservation for athletes in government jobs, which has already benefited over 500 sportspersons. The Chief Minister also announced lucrative cash awards for medalists at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and national-level tournaments.
CM Yogi emphasized that sports foster discipline, health, and national pride. He also administered a fitness oath to athletes before striking a symbolic hockey shot to inaugurate the State Hockey Championship.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, Sports Minister Girish Chandra Yadav, Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharakwal, MPs, MLAs, and several Olympians and Arjuna awardees.
