LUCKNOW, SEP 1 :  Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that hockey has long been a symbol of its sports talent and is now steadily reclaiming its former glory.

The CM said that UP has produced numerous legendary international players, with the name of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand etched in the hearts of every Indian.

He said that the Hockey India Junior Men Inter-Zone Championship is now paving the way for a new generation of talented players, preparing them for future Olympics and international events.

While speaking at the championship’s opening ceremony, Yogi praised the government’s Sports Policy for providing a platform for the state’s talented athletes and actively encouraging them.

He said, “The state has also gifted the nation with hockey icons like KD Singh Babu, Mohammad Shahid, Ravindra Pal and Syed Ali, all of whom have brought pride to the country by leading the Indian team in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships.”

The CM said that six teams will compete in this championship over a week, offering players a new and valuable experience that was previously unavailable. He acknowledged that there was a time when it felt like our national game was being neglected in its own country, but now it is advancing with renewed enthusiasm and confidence.

He highlighted that the Indian hockey team has made the nation proud in the last two Olympics, in Tokyo and Paris. “Lalit Upadhyay, who was part of the Indian team in both events, was appointed as Deputy SP in UP Police and Rajkumar Pal, who excelled in the latest Olympics, will also be made Deputy SP,” he said.

Yogi emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, significant strides have been made to promote sports over the past decade. “Thanks to PM Modi’s initiative, the once-negative perception of sports is replaced with positivity,” he said.

He said, “Private sports academies have played a crucial role in this progress, and the government has introduced a sports policy to further this momentum. This policy ensures that athletes who win medals in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and World Championships are directly recruited into government service. Additionally, the policy encourages and supports the pursuit of sports at all levels.”

The CM announced that his government has already provided government jobs to over 500 athletes across various sectors and this support will continue in the future. He noted the unique opportunity beginning Monday, where the Junior Hockey Championship, UP League Cricket and Football matches will all kick off at KD Singh Babu Stadium.

He highlighted the rapid development of playgrounds in villages across the state, with thousands already completed. Additionally, mini stadiums will be constructed in 825 development blocks, and every district will have a sports stadium.

Yogi said that to encourage sports participation over 65,000 sports kits have been distributed to Yuvak Mangal Dal and Mahila Mangal Dal so far.

He also mentioned that the academy that produced hockey player Raju Pal in Ghazipur is a private institution that received a Rs 5 crore grant from the government last year to promote sports activities.

The CM said that the state’s first sports university, named after the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, is also under construction. The government has preserved KD Singh Babu’s ancestral home from auction, demonstrating its commitment to promoting sports. Plans are also underway to build a memorial and museum dedicated to KD Singh Babu, he said.(UNI)