Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Celebrates Yuva All Stars Championship 2025
Celebrating Kabaddi's Legacy in Uttarakhand
On April 4, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami graced the closing ceremony of the Yuva All Stars Championship 2025, held at the Vandana Kataria Indoor Stadium in Roshanabad, Haridwar. This event was organized by the Uttarakhand Kabaddi Association, as reported by a press release from the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office.
During the event, the Chief Minister announced plans to upgrade the indoor stadium into an air-conditioned facility. He expressed his hopes for a successful future for all the enthusiastic players who traveled from various parts of the country to compete in this prestigious Kabaddi Championship. He encouraged those who narrowly missed victory to view this as a chance to enhance their skills, as stated in the release.
Dhami emphasized the historical significance of Kabaddi in India, noting that while agility, strength, and speed are crucial for success, patience and teamwork are equally important. He lamented that Kabaddi had not received the recognition it deserves for many years. However, he acknowledged that in the past decade, the sport has gained prominence both nationally and internationally, particularly through the Pro-Kabaddi League launched in 2014, which has provided players with a significant platform and increased the sport's visibility on television.
The Chief Minister highlighted that this year's championship was broadcast live in over 100 countries. Additionally, a special 10-day league was organized for Uttarakhand, allowing local players to showcase their talents. He commended the Uttarakhand Kabaddi Association and the event organizers for their efforts. Dhami noted that Uttarakhand is establishing itself as both 'Devbhoomi' and 'Khel Bhoomi,' especially following the successful hosting of the 38th National Games, which set a benchmark for sports facilities in the state.
He revealed that a state-of-the-art stadium is being constructed at a cost of ₹517 crore, alongside the development of world-class sports infrastructure with an investment of approximately ₹100 crore for international-level sports equipment. This infrastructure is now a solid foundation for training athletes in the state. As a result, Uttarakhand is becoming a preferred location for major sports events, as exemplified by the Yuva All Stars Championship.
Looking ahead, the Chief Minister announced the upcoming implementation of a Sports Legacy Plan aimed at establishing Uttarakhand as a sports hub. This plan includes the creation of 23 sports academies across eight cities, where 920 elite athletes and 1,000 additional athletes will receive top-tier training annually. The academies will also feature sports science experts, physiotherapists, conditioning coaches, diet specialists, and psychologists.
Furthermore, significant progress is being made towards establishing Uttarakhand's first sports university in Haldwani and a women's sports college in Lohaghat. Congratulating all participants, coaches, and sports enthusiasts, Dhami noted that Uttarakhand athletes made history by winning over 100 medals at the National Games, including two medals in Kabaddi. He expressed confidence that in the future, Uttarakhand's athletes will achieve success at both national and international levels, bringing pride to the state and the nation.