On Saturday, marking National Sports Day—celebrated on the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand—Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami laid the foundation stone for the first phase of construction (worth ₹43.50 crore) of the Uttarakhand State Sports University (Manaskhand Sports Complex) at the International Stadium in Gaulapar, Haldwani. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the university’s first academic session. The Chief Minister honored and awarded medal-winning athletes who had excelled in national and international competitions, as well as their coaches. He presented the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Khel Ratna Award, Dronacharya Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Himalaya Ratna Award. Sports scholarships were also disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to beneficiaries of the ‘Mukhyamantri Udiyaman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana’ (Chief Minister’s Emerging Player Development Scheme). Extending his best wishes to all the people of the state and the athletes on National Sports Day, the Chief Minister remarked that a new chapter in Uttarakhand’s sports history was being written in Haldwani on Major Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary. He stated that laying the foundation stone for the first phase of the Sports University and launching its first academic session would give wings to the dreams of the state’s young athletes. The state government aims to establish Uttarakhand as a ‘Khelbhoomi’ (Land of Sports), positioning it among the country’s leading states in the sports sector. Paying tribute to the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, the Chief Minister noted that he was not merely a great athlete but a living embodiment of discipline, dedication, and patriotism. He brought glory to India across the globe through his extraordinary sporting prowess. Major Dhyan Chand’s life inspires us, demonstrating that hard work, discipline, and dedication are essential to transform talent into greatness. The Chief Minister described the establishment of the Uttarakhand State Sports University as a significant milestone for the state’s sports sector. Previously, athletes from the state had to look to other states for sports education and specialized training; now, however, they will have access to high-quality sports education, modern training facilities, and better opportunities for advancement right here in their own ‘Devbhoomi’. In the coming years, this university is set to become a premier hub for nurturing a new generation of national and international-level athletes. He added that Uttarakhand—already known as ‘Devbhoomi’ (Land of Gods) and ‘Veerbhoomi’ (Land of Heroes)—is now moving towards establishing a distinct identity as ‘Khelbhoomi’ (Land of Sports) as well. Athletes from the state have brought glory to Uttarakhand at national and international levels through their talent and hard work. Their achievements serve as a source of inspiration for lakhs of youths across the state. While awarding sports scholarships to beneficiaries of the ‘Mukhyamantri Udiyaman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana’ (Chief Minister’s Emerging Sports Talent Promotion Scheme), the Chief Minister stated that this scholarship is not merely financial aid but a means to give wings to the dreams of the state’s budding sports talent. The Chief Minister remarked that a new atmosphere regarding sports has emerged in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Initiatives like ‘Khelo India’ and the ‘Fit India Movement’ are providing opportunities for talent hidden in every corner of the nation to come forward. Young athletes hailing from small villages, remote mountainous regions, and ordinary families are bringing laurels to the country on national and international platforms today. Inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision, the Uttarakhand government is also working with commitment to transform the state into a major hub for sports. The Chief Minister noted that sports serve as a powerful medium to channel the potential of the region’s water resources and its youth in the right direction. The youth of Uttarakhand possess remarkable energy and talent; what is needed is to provide them with the right platform, modern resources, superior training, and opportunities for advancement. With this perspective, the state government has taken several significant decisions in the sports sector over the past few years. He mentioned that under the ‘Mukhyamantri Udiyaman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana’, monthly sports scholarships are being provided to athletes in the 8 to 14 age group. Through the ‘Mukhyamantri Khiladi Protsahan Yojana’ (Chief Minister’s Sports Talent Incentive Scheme), athletes aged 14 to 23 are receiving monthly sports scholarships along with financial assistance to purchase sports equipment. Provisions have also been made for insurance and financial aid to cover sports-related injuries and unforeseen circumstances. The Chief Minister stated that the ‘Mukhyamantri Khel Vikas Nidhi’ (Chief Minister’s Sports Development Fund) has been established with the aim of identifying talented athletes, providing them with better training, and promoting local and traditional sports. A system for ‘out-of-turn’ government employment has been implemented for athletes who win medals at national and international levels; under this initiative, 29 athletes have been appointed to government service so far. The process of employing athletes who won medals at the 38th National Games in various departments is also progressing rapidly. The Chief Minister stated that robust sports infrastructure is being developed in the state. As part of this initiative, the state’s first sports college for girls is being operated at Lohaghat. Keeping future sporting challenges and opportunities in mind, the draft for the Uttarakhand Sports Policy-2026 has been prepared and will be implemented following Cabinet approval. He mentioned that through the ‘One District-One Sport’ scheme, the aim is to develop a distinct sporting identity for each district and promote local talent. The Chief Minister stated that the state government is already working on a special roadmap to ensure a maximum medal haul at the National Games scheduled for 2027 and a strong presence of Uttarakhand’s athletes at the 2036 Olympics. He noted that modern technology plays a crucial role in the development of sports and the enhancement of athletes’ performance. With this vision, the ‘Mauli AI Application’ has been developed to regularly assess the fitness of budding athletes. Future efforts will focus on improving athletes’ skills and performance through the extensive use of modern sports technologies. Urging the athletes to step onto the field and give their 100% with hard work and dedication, the Chief Minister assured that the state government would ensure that a lack of resources, financial constraints, or a scarcity of opportunities does not hinder the dreams of any talented athlete. He expressed the hope that every athlete from Uttarakhand would remain steadfast like the Himalayas and bring glory to India not only within the state but across the globe. Athletes and Coaches Honoured with Devbhoomi Sports Awards For the year 2024, Ankita (Athletics) was honoured with the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Khel Ratna Award, and Lokesh Chaudhary (Athletics) received the Dronacharya Award.For the year 2025, Abhinav Deshwal (Shooting) was awarded the Khel Ratna Award, Mukesh Sharma (Kayaking and Canoeing) received the Dronacharya Award, and Mukesh Chandra Belwal (Boxing) was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award. In the differently-abled category, Shaurya Saini (Shooting) was presented with the Himalaya Ratna Award. Saksham Pratap Singh and Mamta Khati (Modern Pentathlon – Team Category) and Khushi Chand (Boxing – Individual Category) were honoured with the Himalaya Khel Ratna Award. All awardees received a cash prize along with a citation, a blazer, and a shawl. National and International Medal-Winning Athletes and Coaches Honoured On the occasion of National Sports Day, cash awards were presented to athletes who delivered outstanding performances in national and international competitions, as well as to their coaches. The honoured athletes included Ankita (Athletics), Khushi Chand (Boxing), Manisha Chauhan (Hockey), Rafiq Ahmed (Volleyball), Bhumika and Rahul Singh (Kabaddi), Chirag Baretha, Manoj Sarkar, and Mandeep Kaur (Badminton), Saksham Pratap Singh (Modern Pentathlon), Shefali Rawat (Blind Football), Nilima Rai (Para Lawn Bowls), and Aryavansh Tyagi and Bhumi (Shooting). Outstanding coaches were also felicitated, including Lokesh Kumar (Athletics), Bijendra Mall (Boxing), Amit (Shooting), Girish Kumar (Volleyball), and Nitin Kumar (Kabaddi).
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