PM Modi to lay foundation for Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut on January 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation for Major Dhyan Chand Sports University – a world-class infrastructure to nurture sporting talents in the country – in Meerut on January 2.

The varsity, which will come up at Salawa and Kaili villages of Sardhana town in Uttar Pradesh, will be built at an estimated cost of Rs. 700 crore, a press communique from the prime minister’s office (PMO) stated.

The facility, named after veteran hockey player Dhyan Chand, is expected to boast synthetic hockey and football grounds, and volleyball, basketball, kabaddi, handball and lawn tennis courts. A gymnasium, synthetic running stadium, multipurpose hall, swimming pool and cycling velodrome will also be a part of this facility.

Additionally, there will be facilities for squash, shooting, weightlifting, gymnastics, kayaking, canoeing, archery and various other sports.

The varsity is expected to train at least 1,080 sportspersons at a time with equal opportunities given to men and women.

The President of India honours some of the most successful sportspersons with the Arjuna Award on Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary. As a tribute to the hockey legend, the national stadium in Delhi has also been renamed Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna award has been renamed Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. It is the highest sporting honor in India.

Chand, who won three consecutive Olympics medals — Amsterdam in 1928, Los Angeles in 1932 and Berlin in 1936 – was born on August 29, 1905 in Allahabad. He represented India in 12 Olympics and scored 33 goals. He also played international hockey from 1926 to 1949. In the memory of Chand, his birth anniversary is celebrated as National Sports Day every year.

Prime Minister Modi has stressed the importance of inculcating sports in Indian culture in the past. Building world-class infrastructure for sports has been one of his priorities to achieve this goal.