Over the last nine years, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a major expansion in sports infrastructure and athlete support systems under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath. The state government has focused on building a stronger sports culture by investing in stadiums, sports education, training facilities, and employment opportunities for players. What was once considered a state with limited sports infrastructure is now seeing the development of international cricket stadiums, sports colleges, and modern sports complexes that are nurturing talent from rural areas to the international level. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently laid the foundation stone for the first phase of an international cricket stadium in Gorakhpur. The project is being developed over nearly 46 acres and is expected to become one of the largest modern sports facilities in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The proposed stadium will have a seating capacity of around 30,000 spectators and is being planned with international-standard facilities. The project is part of the government’s wider effort to create world-class sports infrastructure in the state. The UP government has also introduced policies to improve the career security for athletes. The government has introduced a two per cent reservation for sportspersons in government jobs, while players who perform well at national and international levels are getting direct recruitment and promotion opportunities.
According to official data, more than 534 athletes have already received appointments in UP Police and other departments through direct recruitment. Recruitment processes for nearly 500 more players are currently underway. Since 2021, around 334 athletes have also been promoted to positions including Inspector, Sub-Inspector, and Head Constable. The government is expanding sports facilities at multiple levels, including playgrounds in gram panchayats, mini stadiums at the block level, and district stadiums across Uttar Pradesh.
To strengthen sports education, two new sports colleges in Saharanpur and Fatehpur have started operations from the 2026-27 academic session. Admissions are currently underway. With these additions, the number of sports colleges operating in Uttar Pradesh has increased to five, while another sports college is under construction in Ballia.
Another key project nearing completion is the Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Sardhana, Meerut. The university will be Uttar Pradesh’s first dedicated sports university and is expected to be inaugurated during the current academic session. Academic activities and courses have already started, and the university is expected to play a major role in sports science education, athlete training, and professional coaching.
The Uttar Pradesh State Sports Policy 2023 has introduced a structured reward system for athletes winning medals in international competitions. Under the policy, Olympic individual gold medal winners are eligible for Rs 6 crore, while silver and bronze medalists can receive Rs 4 crore and Rs 2 crore, respectively. In team events, Olympic gold medalists are entitled to Rs 3 crore, silver medalists Rs 2 crore, and bronze medalists Rs 1 crore. Athletes who win medals in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Cup competitions are also eligible for substantial cash rewards under the state policy.
Under the “One District-One Sport” initiative, coaches across all 75 districts are receiving a monthly honorarium of Rs 25,000. Sports kits and equipment are also being distributed to athletes participating in different disciplines. During the 2025-26 financial year, kits were distributed to 789 players representing 21 sports categories. An international cricket stadium is also under development in Varanasi with support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Alongside this, multi-purpose sports halls, swimming pools, and gym facilities are being expanded in several districts.
Sports Department Secretary Suhas L. Y. said the state government is focusing on identifying talented players at the grassroots level and supporting them through the Eklavya Sports Fund. He said the Gorakhpur international cricket stadium project has officially begun, while modernisation work for Green Park Stadium in Kanpur has been proposed. Construction work for a cricket stadium and modern sports complex in Ayodhya has also been completed.
Under CM Yogi’s leadership, the long-term goal is to build a strong sporting ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh that can help athletes from smaller towns and rural areas compete successfully at national and international platforms.
