Craze for Sports Colleges grows under Yogi government, around 2600 applications received for 518 seats

Record applications received for 5 Sports Colleges, youth’s inclination towards sports on the rise

Government focuses on transparency through merit and performance-based selection process

Players’ talent to be assessed through physical and skill tests

Final admission to be given after biological age verification and counselling

Lucknow, May 2026 : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, continuous concrete steps are being taken to give a new identity to sports culture in Uttar Pradesh. The impact of the Yogi government’s sports-oriented policies and modern facilities can be seen in the record number of applications received for admission to Sports Colleges for the 2026-27 session.

This time, around 2600 students have applied for 518 seats in five Sports Colleges of the state, creating a new record. These figures show that the youth of the state are now looking at sports not just as a hobby, but as a future and career option.

Online applications were invited for admission to Classes 6, 9 and 11 in five Sports Colleges located in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Saifai, Saharanpur and Fatehpur. This year, around 2600 applications have been received, while last year around 1800 applications were received. Such a large number of applications proves that the trust of the youth in government sports institutions has increased rapidly.

This time, the selection process has been made completely merit and performance-based. The preliminary selection test was of 100 marks, with 50 marks each for the physical test and skill and game test. It was mandatory to secure a minimum of 40 percent marks in both tests.

Candidates selected in the preliminary test will appear in the main selection test. In Lucknow and Kanpur divisions, 264 players had participated in the preliminary examination last year, while this year 393 players have taken part. The main selection test will also be of 100 marks, in which players’ physical ability and sports skills will be tested in detail.

The sports-wise and college-wise main selection test will be conducted on June 3-4 and June 5-6. It will include 50 marks for the physical test and 50 marks for the game and skill test.

It will be mandatory to secure a minimum of 40 percent marks, that is 20 marks, in the physical test. Sports experts will assess the talent of candidates on the field. In this, 30 marks have been fixed for the sports technique examination (skill test) and 20 marks for the game test. Experts will award marks based on performance.

The result of the main selection test will be released on the Khel Saathi portal and the decision of the selection committee will be final and universally accepted. After the main selection test, the final merit list will be released on the college website and Khel Saathi portal.

Candidates included in the merit list of the main selection test will undergo biological age verification under a centralized system. This process will be conducted in different districts for different sports.

The biological age verification of candidates will be conducted with the consent of parents. Counselling of candidates found suitable in the biological age verification will be conducted. In this, certificates will be verified and the admission process will be completed on the basis of vacant seats and college preference.

Secretary of the Management Committee Uttar Pradesh and Principal of Sports College Lucknow, Deependra Yadav, said, “The preliminary trial has been conducted with complete transparency and fairness, and the final trial will also be conducted in the same manner.”

He said that the target is to receive 3 to 4 times more applications in the next session compared to the current session.