By Tajdar H. Zaidi
Lucknow: Reiterating his government’s resolve to transform Uttar Pradesh into a major sporting hub, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced an expansive roadmap to strengthen sports infrastructure from the village to the divisional level.
The plan includes establishing sports colleges at every divisional headquarters, playgrounds in every gram panchayat, mini stadiums at the block level, and full-fledged stadiums in each district, aimed at nurturing talent from an early age and creating a robust sporting ecosystem.
The Chief Minister was addressing the award distribution ceremony of the MLA Sports Competition 2025 for the Gorakhpur City Assembly constituency, held at the Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College.
Speaking to athletes, coaches and local representatives, Yogi Adityanath said the state government has made sports development a key pillar of youth empowerment and social transformation.
Highlighting ongoing projects, he said an international-standard stadium is being constructed near Beliapar in Gorakhpur, while the existing regional stadium in the city is undergoing major renovation at a cost of ₹63 crore.
In addition, a state-of-the-art stadium complex is being developed at the Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College to provide modern training and competition facilities to young athletes.
Referring to western Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister said the academic session has already begun at the sports university in Meerut, named after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
He noted that construction work at the university is progressing at a rapid pace, with world-class infrastructure being created to meet international standards in coaching, sports science and athlete development.
Building on these initiatives, Yogi Adityanath announced that the government is now actively preparing to set up sports colleges at every divisional headquarters, a move expected to decentralise access to professional training and reduce the need for talented players to migrate to a few big cities.
The Chief Minister also revealed plans to rope in educational institutions as partners in this sporting push. He said he would soon convene a meeting with all institutions in Gorakhpur city, urging each to adopt at least one sport.
Under this collaborative model, part of the support—such as facilities, logistics or mentorship—would come from institutions, while the government would provide additional funding, infrastructure and qualified coaches, ensuring children receive structured training and exposure.
Outlining the future expansion of the MLA Sports Competition, Yogi Adityanath said upcoming editions will be far more inclusive. Besides schoolchildren and students, working professionals and senior citizens will also be brought into the fold.
Competitions will begin at the ward level, progress to suburban-level events by clustering multiple wards, and culminate in grand city-level tournaments, complete with ceremonial felicitation of winners.
According to the Chief Minister, this multi-tiered format will not only promote fitness and competitive spirit across age groups but also help identify hidden talent, foster community bonding, and embed sports culture into everyday life in urban and rural Uttar Pradesh alike.
By combining infrastructure expansion, institutional participation and mass-level competitions, the government aims to position Uttar Pradesh as a nursery of national and international sportspersons, while simultaneously encouraging healthier lifestyles among citizens.
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