Meerut Was Major Dhyan Chand's 'Karmsthal': PM Modi Lays Foundation Stone Of Sports University
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Meerut's Sports University will be dedicated to Major Dhyan Chand as the city was his 'Karmsthal'
New Delhi: Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Meerut on Sunday via Delhi-Meerut Expressway and laid the foundation stone of Major Dhyan Chand Sports University.
PM Narendra Modi also paid floral tributes at the statue of Mangal Pandey, the hero of the Great Revolt of 1857.
Pandey was a sepoy (infantryman) in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) regiment of the British East India Company. He had risen in revolt against the British in 1857.
Prior to paying tributes at Pandey's statue, Modi visited the Kali Paltan Mandir in the city and offered prayers. He then visited the Shaheed Smarak Amar Jawan Jyoti and paid homage to the martyrs of 1857.
The prime minister also visited the Rajkiye Swatantrata Sangrahalaya and saw the exhibits kept there.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accompanied the prime minister.
PM Modi also addressed the event. Here are some key highlights of PM Modi's speech:
- PM Modi said that Meerut and its nearby areas have contributed significantly in giving a new direction to 'Atmanirbhar India'. Be it sacrifices on the border to protect the nation or in the playground, India has always been proud of the city.
- The Prime Minister further said that Meerut was Major Dhyan Chand's 'karmsthal'. Centre named the country's biggest sports award after him and now Meerut's Sports University will be dedicated to Major Dhyan Chand Ji.
- PM Modi said that this university worth Rs 700 crores will provide international sports facilities to the youth. Every year, more than 1000 girls & boys will graduate from here. Taking a jibe at the previous governments, the Prime Minister said that earlier, only criminals & mafias used to play & tournaments of illegal land grabbing happened.
- Mentioning the initiative taken under his leadership in the field of sports, PM Modi said, "India needs to become self-reliant in sports equipment manufacturing. In the NEP being implemented, priority's being given to sports. It's now in the same category as science, math or other studies. It'll be a dedicated subject."
- PM Modi further said, " We have to remember one more thing related to the world of sports. The market for sports-related services and goods is worth lakhs of crores. Sports goods are exported to more than 100 countries from Meerut itself. Meerut is not only the vocal for the local, but it is also making the local global.
About Major Dhyan Chand Sports University
The university will be established in the Salawa and Kaili villages of Sardhana town in Meerut at an estimated cost of about Rs 700 crore.
One of the key areas of focus for the prime minister is inculcating sporting culture and establishing world-class sporting infrastructure in all parts of the country, and the establishment of this university at Meerut will be a major step towards fulfilling this vision, according to a statement by the PMO.
The sports university will be equipped with modern and state-of-the-art sports infrastructure, including synthetic hockey and football grounds, a ground for basketball, volleyball, handball and kabaddi, lawn tennis court, gymnasium hall, synthetic running stadium, swimming pool, multipurpose hall and a cycling velodrome.
It will also house facilities for shooting, squash, gymnastics, weightlifting, archery, canoeing and kayaking among other facilities.
The university will have the capacity to train 1,080 sportspersons including 540 female and 540 male sportspersons, the statement said.
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