CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Launches MP Sports Festival in Uttarakhand
23 State Sports Academies to be Established Soon: CM Dhami
Funds Announced for Volleyball and Badminton Courts at Navodaya Vidyalaya, Tapovan: MP Naresh Bansal
Dehradun, October 27 — Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the “MP Sports Festival” at Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya, Tapovan on Monday. The Chief Minister said the festival, being organized across the country under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a significant initiative to identify and nurture sports talent from the grassroots to the national level.
The MP Sports Festival is being conducted in three phases across Uttarakhand, aiming to spread the message of “Fit India – Sports India – Strong India” to every village. The event also seeks to promote local, traditional, and indigenous sports that reflect the rich sporting culture of the region.
State Advancing Towards Sports Excellence
CM Dhami said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is achieving new milestones in the field of sports and asserting its presence on the global stage. He added that the state government is making concerted efforts to strengthen the sports ecosystem in Uttarakhand.
Highlighting recent achievements, the Chief Minister said Uttarakhand athletes made history by winning 103 medals at the 38th National Games, significantly enhancing the state’s reputation in the sporting arena. “Today, Uttarakhand stands among the leading states in the country for developing world-class sports infrastructure,” he said.
Under the ‘Sports Legacy Plan’, 23 sports academies will soon be established in eight major cities of the state. Each year, these academies will provide high-quality training to 920 elite athletes and 1,000 emerging players, preparing them for national and international competitions.
Major Sports Infrastructure Projects
The Chief Minister informed that work is progressing swiftly on establishing Uttarakhand’s first sports university in Haldwani and a women’s sports college in Lohaghat. The state government has also introduced a new Sports Policy aimed at holistic sports development and athlete welfare.
Medal-winning players at the national and international levels are being offered out-of-turn government appointments, while promising young athletes are receiving support through several initiatives, including the Chief Minister’s Sports Development Fund, Sports Incentive Scheme, Emerging Player Scheme, and Sports Kit Scheme.
To further encourage sports participation, the government has reinstated the 4% sports quota in government jobs, ensuring due recognition and opportunities for talented athletes. Prestigious honors such as the Uttarakhand Khel Ratna Award and the Himalaya Khel Ratna Award are also motivating sportspersons to excel.
MP Naresh Bansal Announces Support
Speaking on the occasion, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal said India is swiftly moving toward realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed nation by 2047. He stated that initiatives like the MP Sports Competition and Fit India Movement are instrumental in channelizing youth energy and showcasing young talent.
MP Bansal announced that funds from his MP Local Area Development Fund (MPLADS) will be allocated for the construction of volleyball and badminton courts at Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya, Tapovan. He also committed to providing funds for furniture in the school mess.
Event Attendance
The event was attended by MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, MLA Khajan Das, Dehradun Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal, CDO Dehradun Abhinav Shah, and several other dignitaries, officials, and local residents.
