Prime Minister Modi laid foundation stone for the Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) on Sunday. An estimated cost of Rs 700 crore will be incurred to establish the university at Salawa and Kaili villages of Sardhana town.

"Meerut has shown to the world, whether it is by giving life for the country or earning the honour for the country through sports, it is always there to inspire and lead the nation," PM Modi said after laying the foundation stone.

"From startups to sports, India's youth are making a mark globally," the Prime Minister added.

"Where the youth will run, India will run. And the world is going to run where India will run," PM Modi said.

Our youth need to be encouraged to become professional athletes if our sports are to prosper in the country. "This is my resolve and my dream! I want our youth to see sports like other professions," PM added.

Among the modern and state-of-the-art sports infrastructure that will be provided at the Sports University are- a synthetic hockey field, a synthetic football field, a synthetic basketball court, a synthetic handball court, a lawn tennis court, a Gymnasium, a synthetic running stadium, a swimming pool, a multipurpose hall and a cycling velodrome.

Among other facilities, the university will offer shooting, squash, gymnastics, weightlifting, archery, canoeing, and kayaking. Approximately 1080 sportspersons will be trained at the University, including 540 female athletes and 540 male athletes.

Emphasising on the importance of sports and how National Education Policy, NEP will be a guiding light in future, PM said, "Various sports clusters to be inaugurated today. India needs to become self-reliant in sports equipment manufacturing. In the NEP being implemented, priority is being given to sports. It's now in the same category as science, math or other studies. It'll be a dedicated subject." 

A floral tribute was paid earlier in the day to the statue of Mangal Pandey, the hero of the Great Revolt of 1857, by Prime Minister Modi. As part of his visit to the statue of Pandey, the prime minister also visited the Kali Paltan Mandir in the city. Subsequently, he went to pay homage to the martyrs of 1857 at the Shaheed Samarak Amar Jawan Jyoti.

Additionally, the prime minister was shown the exhibits in the Rajkiye Swatantrata Sangrahalaya. Anandiben Patel, governor of Uttar Pradesh, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accompanied the prime minister.

Image source: DNA