Reaffirming his strong commitment to the promotion of sports and sportspersons, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Monday that the government will move forward with the process of establishing sports colleges at every divisional headquarters, along with developing playgrounds in every gram panchayat, a mini stadium at the block level, and a large stadium at the district level.
Chief Minister Adityanath was addressing the award distribution ceremony of the MLA Sports Competition 2025 for the Gorakhpur City Assembly constituency.
Speaking at the event held at Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College, the Chief Minister said that the government is continuously strengthening sports infrastructure. An international stadium is coming up near Beliapar in Gorakhpur, while the regional stadium of Gorakhpur is undergoing renovation for Rs 63 crore.
A state-of-the-art stadium is also being developed at Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College. In Meerut, the academic session has already commenced at the sports university named after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, where world-class construction work is progressing rapidly. He said the government is now preparing to establish sports colleges at every divisional headquarters.
The Chief Minister further stated that he will soon hold a meeting with all institutions in Gorakhpur city. During the meeting, institutions will be encouraged to adopt at least one sport each.
Some support will be extended by the institutions, and some by the government. Good coaches will be appointed, providing children with a strong platform to pursue sports.
Chief Minister Adityanath also shared his future plans regarding the MLA Sports Competition. He said that in the next edition, sports competitions will be organised not only for children and students but also at the ward level for working professionals and retired citizens. Competitions will be held at the ward level, followed by suburban-level events by combining multiple wards, and then large-scale city-level competitions with grand ceremonies where winners will be felicitated.
He informed that competitions for children and students will be organised in three levels for boys and girls, covering basic education, secondary education, and higher education.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that similar initiatives have been planned for cultural programmes in Gorakhpur. Competitions across various art forms such as singing, instrumental music, dance, and theatre will be held in the first week of January. Winners will be honoured during the main events of the Gorakhpur Mahotsav from January 11 to 13.
Explaining the importance of sports, the Chief Minister said, when youth play, the nation blossoms. The journey towards realising the vision of a developed India begins here. He emphasised that success in life is possible only with a healthy body, which can be achieved through sports and yogic practices.
The Chief Minister said that over the past 11 years, there has been a significant transformation in sports and sporting activities across the country. The world now looks towards India in sports such as kabaddi, hockey, badminton, and athletics.
A new level of competition has emerged in events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships. Keeping this in mind, the government is continuously strengthening sports infrastructure.
The Chief Minister praised the enthusiasm of players who participated despite severe cold conditions. He said that around 1,000 players participated directly and nearly 10,000 players were involved indirectly in the MLA Sports Competition.
The 2025 edition featured competitions in athletics, kabaddi, volleyball, judo, and wrestling. He added that sports not only provide entertainment in both favourable and adverse conditions but also play a major role in keeping individuals physically, mentally, and intellectually fit.