Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attends inauguration of 1st All India Police Handball Cluster 2024-2025

Lucknow : Reaffirming the importance of fitness and sports in nation-building, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that a strong nation can only be built on the foundation of a healthy India. He stressed the need to promote sports activities at every level, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in fostering a new sports culture across the country.

During the inauguration of the first All India Police Handball Cluster 2024-2025, CM Yogi said, “Sports have always been an integral part of Indian life. Indian sages have long said that the fulfillment of all religious pursuits requires a healthy body. A healthy mind can only reside in a healthy body. To realize the vision of a strong nation, we must first have a healthy India. Therefore, it is essential to promote sports activities at every level. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has successfully introduced a new sports culture across the country.”

He cited initiatives such as Khelo India, the Fit India Movement, and the establishment of SAI centers in every district through the Sports Authority of India, as examples of this shift. “In light of these programs, the All India Police Tournament program has been launched, and I am pleased to announce that for the next five days, the All India Police Handball Cluster 2024-2025 will be held here in the capital of Uttar Pradesh,” the Chief Minister added.

The event will see participation from 75 teams representing central forces and state police departments, with 1,341 players—including 336 women—competing. CM Yogi expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for choosing Uttar Pradesh as the host for this prestigious tournament.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the historic scale of the event, with over 75 teams and 1,341 players participating. “Teams from across the country—from Manipur to Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir to Telangana and West Bengal—are joining, making this event a true reflection of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,” he said.

He emphasized that the country has embraced a new sports culture, fostering the growth of sports activities at every level. He further noted that sports are now playing a key role in enhancing individuals’ lives. “The government has implemented a comprehensive sports policy in the state,” CM Yogi added.

Over the past five years, the Uttar Pradesh Police Department has ensured participation in more than 500 international competitions. In addition, players who have won medals are being incorporated into the Uttar Pradesh Police force, with more than 500 athletes recruited for various posts through direct recruitment.

To boost grassroots sports, CM Yogi stated that over 65,000 men and women in Mangal Dal across villages have received sports kits. Uttar Pradesh has also invested heavily in sports infrastructure, developing 84 stadiums, 67 multipurpose halls, 15 synthetic hockey stadiums, 2 international cricket stadiums, 38 swimming pools, 47 modern gyms, and a range of specialized facilities including wrestling halls, shooting ranges, tennis and basketball courts, hostels, and dormitories.

CM Yogi also shared that 740 players are currently housed in 44 sports hostels across 18 districts. These hostels cater to 16 different sports. Additionally, three sports colleges in Gorakhpur, Lucknow, and Etawah provide not only world-class infrastructure but also skilled trainers. International-level astro turf has been installed at Guru Govind Singh Sports College in Lucknow and Major Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium.

“The diet of players in sports colleges and hostels has been enhanced, and 50 international players have been appointed with a monthly honorarium of Rs 1.5 lakh for their excellent training,” CM Yogi said. He also revealed that the construction of the state’s third international cricket stadium in Varanasi is underway at full speed.

Furthermore, a new international-standard indoor stadium has been built at Dr. Sampurnanand Sports Stadium in Varanasi at a cost of Rs 287 crore, providing facilities for more than 20 indoor sports, including badminton, basketball, and swimming. Furthermore, the construction of Major Dhyanchand Sports University in Meerut is progressing rapidly, with classes set to begin in this session.

Emphasizing the expansion of sports infrastructure, CM Yogi mentioned that Khelo India Centres are being established in every district under the ‘One District One Sports’ scheme. The state government is providing financial support to award-winning players: Rs 20,000 per month for Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, Major Dhyanchand Award, Khel Ratna Award, and Padma Award winners in sports. Former state-level players receive Rs 4,000, national-level players get Rs 6,000, and international-level players receive Rs 10,000 per month.

The Chief Minister also announced that the state’s highest sports awards, the Laxman Award for men and Rani Lakshmibai Award for women, will be given to athletes showing exceptional performance. Additionally, the state has made arrangements for substantial rewards for medal-winning athletes in international competitions such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and Asian Games.

Gold medalists in the Olympics will receive Rs 6 crore, silver medalists Rs 4 crore, and bronze medalists Rs 2 crore. In Olympic team events, the gold medalists will get Rs 3 crore, silver Rs 2 crore, and bronze Rs 1 crore. For the Asian Games, the reward for gold is Rs 3 crore, silver Rs 2 crore, and bronze Rs 75 lakh, while in the Commonwealth Games, gold medalists will receive Rs 1.5 crore, silver Rs 75 lakh, and bronze Rs 50 lakh.

The Chief Minister emphasized that athletes from Uttar Pradesh participating in the Olympics are being rewarded with Rs 10 lakh, while those excelling in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships receive Rs 5 lakh each. Furthermore, athletes who win medals in various competitions are being directly appointed to the police department through a special recruitment process.

Notable appointments include hockey player Lalit Kumar Upadhyay as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), cricket player Deepti Sharma as DSP, athlete Parul Chaudhary as DSP, shooting player Akhil Swarn as DSP, and Kabaddi player Arjun Deshwal as DSP. Additionally, judo player Vijay Kumar Yadav and wrestling champion Divya Kankaran have been appointed as Naib Tehsildar, tennis player Arjun Singh as Passenger Tax Officer, and athletes Prachi and Puneet Kumar as District Youth Welfare and Regional Team Officers. The process for appointing hockey player Rajkumar Pal as DSP is currently underway.

The CM further noted that more than 2.1 lakh police personnel have been recruited into the police department. In a bid to promote sports, the government has also eased the recruitment and promotion rules for skilled players. Infrastructure developments include the reconstruction of Astro Turf and Synthetic Athletic Grounds at the 35th Battalion PAC in Lucknow, a new sports hostel for 150 players at PAC Lucknow, and the construction of Astro Turf Hockey Grounds at the 10th and 12th PAC in Barabanki.

Additionally, a sports hostel for 150 players is under construction in Barabanki, and a sports complex has been built at PAC Ghaziabad. Kabaddi grounds and sets have also been constructed at the 47th Battalion in Ghaziabad. To support the development of players, Rs 10 crore has been allocated to the Uttar Pradesh Police Sports and Control Board, and work is currently underway.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also drew attention to the significance of sports events, likening the ongoing basketball and handball cluster to a mini Kumbh. He highlighted that between January 13 and February 26, the entire country and the world witnessed the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj.

He proudly stated that everyone who attended the Maha Kumbh praised the behavior and efficiency of the Uttar Pradesh Police Force. Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad, DGP Prashant Kumar, Principal Secretary Home Sanjay Prasad, and ADG PAC Sujit Pandey were also present at the event.