Uttar Pradesh govt to adopt two sports for the next decade

Wresting is set to become one of the two sports.

Taking forward the motto of ‘Khelo India Khelo’, the Uttar Pradesh government will adopt two sports -- wrestling and one more -- and finance their promotion in the state for the next ten years, announced Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday.

''Of the two sports to be adopted by Uttar Pradesh, one will be wrestling. The second one for adoption will be selected soon by the Sports Department,'' said CM Yogi.

Speaking in a felicitation ceremony for India Tokyo Olympics medalists here at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium the CM also announced that the upcoming sports university in Meerut will be named after legendary Hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. The Uttar Pradesh government has also decided to construct a playground in every village and open a gym at every gram panchayat level.

In a mega event, the Uttar Pradesh government felicitated Tokyo Olympics medalists Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Dahiya, PV Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain, Bajrang Punia among others. Various dignitaries, including Governor Anandiben Patel, were present on the occasion along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

In a bid to encourage the sportspersons, CM Yogi presented a cash award of more than Rs 42 crores to the medal winners and coaches. Gold medalist Neeraj Chopra was awarded a cash award of Rs 2 crores. Silver medalists Ravi Dahiya and Mirabai Chanu received Rs 1.5 crores while bronze medalist PV Sindhu, Lovelina Borgohain and Bajrang Punia received Rs 1 crore each.

Apart from this, the Uttar Pradesh government also felicitated the Indian men and women hockey teams. The bronze-medal winning men's hockey team got Rs 1 crores for each member. The women hockey team was given Rs 50 lakhs for each member. CM Yogi also gave the cash award of Rs 50 lakh each to golfer Aditi Ashok and wrestler Deepak Punia.

At the same time, an additional incentive amount of Rs 25 lakhs was given to the participating players of Uttar Pradesh including Lalit Upadhyay, Vandana Kataria, Priyanka Goswami, Annu Rani, Seema Punia, Saurabh Chaudhary, Meraj Ahmed Khan, Arvind Singh, Satish Singh, Shivpal Singh.Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium on Thursday witnessed the heartfelt bonding of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with sports. By giving unprecedented respect to those who raised the country's honour in the Tokyo Olympics, the CM engraved the live figures of sports and players from all over India in this stadium in Lucknow. Such charged was the atmosphere that Neeraj Chopra, boy with golden arm, dubbed the UP government event to felicitate Tokyo Olympians as the ‘function of India’.

Everyone present at the event said in one voice that Uttar Pradesh is the first state to shower so much respect, love and affection on the players of other states and credited Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the same.

It is noteworthy that CM Yogi has said that the UP government will do whatever is necessary to promote the players.

Efforts at Grassroots level to boost sports culture in youth

Under the Yogi Adityanath government, efforts at grassroots level have been made to promote the sports culture in the state. To give access to the sports facilities to the rural-dwellers, the government has been building open gymnasiums and mini stadiums in even the remote villages. The diet money for players in sports colleges has been increased from Rs 250 to Rs 375 per day per player. In addition, a sports university is being established in Meerut. Not only this, the Chief Minister has also announced cash awards for medallists ranging from Rs 6 crore (gold), Rs 4 crore (silver) to Rs 2 crore (bronze).

For sportspersons participating in team events, each player will be rewarded with Rs 3 crore for winning the Gold medal, while Silver and Bronze medallists will be rewarded with Rs 2 and Rs 1 crore each. Besides, Rs 10 lakh each will be given to each athlete who participated in the Olympics.

Tops Sportsmen to get a chance to hold Gazetted Posts

A proposal will also be sent by the state government to make top-performing players, gazetted officers. The government will appoint UP’s medalists in international sports events like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, World Cup and World Championships on gazetted posts like that of deputy superintendent of police.

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