Haldwani, August 30, 2026: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the Uttarakhand State Sports University at the Manaskhand Sports Complex in Gaulapar, Haldwani, on National Sports Day. The first phase of construction has been approved at a cost of ₹43.50 crore.
The Chief Minister also formally launched the university’s first academic session, calling it a major step toward creating stronger opportunities for young athletes within Uttarakhand. He said the institution will allow players to access higher sports education, specialised coaching and modern training facilities without having to move to other states.
Dhami said National Sports Day, celebrated on the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, has added a new chapter to Uttarakhand’s sporting journey. He said the government aims to establish the state as a leading sporting destination in India and build a distinct identity for Uttarakhand as a “Khelbhoomi.”
Paying tribute to Major Dhyan Chand, the Chief Minister said the hockey icon represented discipline, dedication, excellence and patriotism. He said Dhyan Chand’s extraordinary achievements raised India’s stature across the world and continue to inspire young sportspersons.
The Chief Minister honoured athletes and coaches who delivered outstanding performances in national and international competitions. He presented the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Khel Ratna Award, Dronacharya Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and Himalayan Ratna Award. Beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Udiyman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana also received sports scholarships through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Sports Awards Announced
For 2024, athlete Ankita received the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Khel Ratna Award, while athletics coach Lokesh Chaudhary received the Dronacharya Award.
For 2025, shooter Abhinav Deshwal was awarded the Khel Ratna, kayaking and canoeing coach Mukesh Sharma received the Dronacharya Award, and boxing coach Mukesh Chandra Belwal received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
In the para-sports category, shooter Shaurya Saini received the Himalayan Ratna Award. In the team category, modern pentathlon athletes Saksham Pratap Singh and Mamta Khati were honoured, while boxer Khushi Chand received the Himalayan Khel Ratna Award in the individual category.
All award recipients were presented cash prizes, citations, blazers and shawls.
Dhami said the scholarship under the Mukhyamantri Udiyman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana is more than financial assistance; it is intended to give young athletes confidence and help them pursue their sporting ambitions.
Under the scheme, athletes aged 8 to 14 years receive monthly sports scholarships. The Mukhyamantri Khiladi Protsahan Yojana supports athletes between 14 and 23 years with monthly scholarships and financial assistance to buy sports equipment. The government has also made provisions for insurance and financial aid in the event of sports injuries or emergencies.
The Chief Minister said the state has created the Mukhyamantri Khel Vikas Nidhi to identify talent, strengthen training and promote indigenous and traditional sports. He added that national and international medal winners are eligible for out-of-turn government appointments, with 29 players already appointed to government services. The process of employing medal winners from the 38th National Games is also moving forward.
Dhami said Uttarakhand is expanding sports infrastructure across the state. The state’s first girls’ sports college is already operating in Lohaghat, while the draft of the Uttarakhand Sports Policy 2026 has been prepared and will be implemented after Cabinet approval.
He said the One District, One Sport programme will develop a distinctive sporting identity for each district and support local talent. The government is also working toward setting up 23 new high-tech sports academies for different disciplines across the state.
The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand has begun preparing a special roadmap to win more medals at the National Games scheduled for 2027 and to ensure a strong presence of athletes from the state at the 2036 Olympics.
He also referred to the development of the Mauli AI application, which will be used to regularly assess the fitness of emerging athletes. The government plans to use more modern sports technologies in the future to improve skills, training quality and competitive performance.
Athletes honoured with cash awards for strong national and international performances included Ankita in athletics, Khushi Chand in boxing, Manisha Chauhan in hockey, Rafiq Ahmed in volleyball, Bhoomika and Rahul Singh in kabaddi, Chirag Baretha, Manoj Sarkar and Mandeep Kaur in badminton, Saksham Pratap Singh in modern pentathlon, Shefali Rawat in blind football, Nilima Rai in para lawn bowls, and Aryavansh Tyagi and Bhoomi in shooting.
Outstanding coaches honoured included athletics coach Lokesh Kumar, boxing coach Bijendra Mall, shooting coach Amit, volleyball coach Girish Kumar and kabaddi coach Nitin Kumar.
Sports Minister Rekha Arya, Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar MP Ajay Bhatt, MLA Dr. Mohan Singh Bisht and other public representatives, sports officials, athletes and sports enthusiasts attended the programme.
