The recently concluded Asian Games at Guangzhou in China will be long remembered for the great showing of Indian players, who got 107 medals in various events. If we closely look at our medal winners, it reveals something very special. While athletes from Haryana got 14 medals in individual events and topped the table, Uttar Pradesh surprised all with an incredible performance. The athletes from UP got seven medals and stood second on the honour list.
Haryana has already established itself as the powerhouse of Indian sport, and the emergence of UP should inspire other States as well. That also proves that the State Government, under the able leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is investing heavily in sports infrastructure.
UP has steadily become the country’s sports capital, hosting the most successful Khelo India University Games, Asian Youth Handball Championship, Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship, and ITF Men’s. The State has also hosted the Davis Cup and MotoGP recently.
Regarding the Asian games, two young girls from Meerut in UP — Parul Chaudhary and Annu Rani, have clinched gold in the women’s 5000m race and javelin throw events, respectively. Surely, both have achieved more than expected from them. What makes the public celebration sweet for the families of the two athletes is that growing up, both faced stiff resistance in their native hamlets from relatives and village elders who frowned upon women taking to ‘manly sports’. Sanjeev Mishra, a noted Kanpur-based sports writer, says, “UP is changing and changing fast for the good. The people are encouraging their daughters to take sports as their career option. The State Government is also creating sports infrastructure in the State in a big way.”
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated the two daughters of his State.CM Yogi praised Anu Rani, who won gold in the javelin throw, and Parul Chaudhary, who clinched the gold medal in the 5000-meter race.
CM Yogi took to the social media platform X to write, “Congratulations, Anu Rani, on your outstanding gold throw. Your throw of 62.92 meters was brilliant, showcasing your talent and strong determination. Your achievements inspire us all. Jai Hind.” Similarly, the Chief Minister congratulated Parul Chaudhary for winning gold in the 5000-meter race, writing, “Congratulations to Parul Chaudhary for winning a splendid gold medal in the women’s 5000 meters at the Asian Games. Your excellent performance with a time of 15:14.75 has brought great pride to the country. My best wishes for your future endeavours.”
Congratulations, @Annu_Javelin, on your amazing Golden Throw!
Your throw of 62.92 m was fantastic, showcasing your talent and determination.
Your achievements inspire us all.
Jai Hind!
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 3, 2023
Congratulations Parul Chaudhary for grabbing Glorious Gold in Women's 5000m at #AsianGames!
With a timing of 15:14.75, your outstanding performance has made the nation proud.
My best wishes for success in your future endeavors.
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 3, 2023
Annu Rani has changed the way people think in these parts. Growing up, both faced stiff resistance in their native places from relatives. It wasn’t easy when she decided to take up javelin. People were sceptical at first. Many would rail against her for entering a field which is considered a male domain. Rani was introduced to athletics by her brother Upendra Singh in 2009, but her sports instructor saw her potential in javelin and encouraged her to switch. She didn’t leave any stone unturned to prove her coach right. When not in the stadium, she would practise with sugarcane stalks on her family farm, drawing ridicule from the villagers. But she didn’t pay any heed. It was a similar story with Parul Chaudhary.
UP Police has recruited the highest number of 579 athletes, the most by any Indian State, into the police force. Furthermore, under the schemes to promote sports in the State, Olympic athletes were awarded a cash prize of Rs 6 crore for winning a gold medal, Rs 4 crore for a silver medal, and Rs 2 crore for a bronze medal. He added that team event winners in the Olympic Games received Rs 3 crore for gold, Rs 2 crore for silver, and Rs 1 crore for bronze. In the Asian Games, gold medalists would be awarded Rs 3 crores, silver medalists Rs 1.5 crores, and bronze medalists Rs 75 lakhs.
More often than not, people ignore that UP has always been known as a sporting State because of the phenomenal number of UP athletes who have brought laurels to the country. Sport doesn’t just empower on an individual basis; it also unites and inspires people collectively, which builds communities. Therefore, strengthening the sporting ecosystem is necessary for State Governments, given sport’s personal and social development benefits. Increasing access to and participation in sporting infrastructure is a development goal. This is one major reason sports have emerged as a soft power for a State like UP. Navneet Sehgal, an ex-IAS of UP cadre, says, “During my tenure as the Additional Chief Secretary of Sports, we came out with a formidable sports policy, as in government, the change starts at the policy level.”
As part of the new sports policy, special focus is laid on various aspects, from a player’s physical fitness to training. Along with this, various provisions have been made to support the development of new institutions while connecting schools, colleges, and private academies with sports.
The UP Government is also providing financial assistance to budding athletes and has also included provisions for the same. Each registered player will receive health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh from the State Government.
Navneet Sehgal adds, “The State Government aimed to focus on the grassroots level and, simultaneously, invest in infrastructure and be on par with the constant evolution of the sports industry.
The construction of mini-stadiums at developmental blocks is underway in the first phase.” Also, a stadium is being built in every district, and many programmes, including the formation of young welfare and women welfare committees in every village panchayat, are being undertaken to promote sports among youths in the State at the grassroots level. Also, sports kits have been provided to 65,000 youth and women welfare committees, and various efforts are being made to enhance facilities for athletes and encourage them at every level.
Similarly, the UP Government has signed MoUs with leading organisations in the country like JSW Sports, Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance, and Sports Technologies, among others, for the sustainable growth of sports in the State.
After the inclusion of e-sports in the new sports policy, UP has also become the first State in the country in whose programme youth across the State are being encouraged for e-sports. Giving jobs to athletes has also been a priority for the State Government. It is very heartening that UP is giving so much importance to sports.
