PIONEEREDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that 23 sports academies would be established in eight districts of the State under the Sports Legacy Plan during the National Sports Day – 2025 function held in Parade Ground here on Friday to mark Dhyan Chand Jayanti. “Every year, these academies will provide high-level training to 920 world-class athletes and 1,000 other players,” he declared.
Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that India is emerging as a global sports power under his dynamic guidance with Uttarakhand coming up to play its part. “The successful hosting of the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand has established the State as both Devbhoomi and Khelbhoomi. This year, the State’s athletes achieved a record by winning 103 medals, securing 7th place in the National Games for the first time,” he said.
He further informed that the State’s first sports university is coming up in Haldwani while a women’s sports college is coming up in Lohaghat. “Under the new sports policy, medal winners at the national and international levels will be offered government jobs. The policy also envisages providing free training and education for players in residential sports colleges. Besides, sports scholarships will be provided to motivate youth with potential sports talent,” he said.
During the programme, the medal winners from the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand were felicitated. He said that the State government is providing an honorarium of approximately Rs 16 crore to over 250 players and their trainers as part of the celebration of the National Sports Day.
Stating that India is making efforts to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, the CM urged the Sports department and sports-inclined youngsters to begin preparations right now. He announced plans to construct an athletic synthetic track in the Parade Ground and install synthetic football turf in the Pavilion Football Ground.
In her address, the Sports minister Rekha Arya said that Uttarakhand had set benchmarks in various fields during the 38th National Games. “We are developing sports facilities to make sure that athletes emerge from every household in Uttarakhand,” she added.
