Jobs, infrastructure, training push: Uttar Pradesh named TOISA 2025 State of the Year

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh was named ‘State of the Year’ at the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 on Saturday, in recognition of its efforts to strengthen sports infrastructure and athlete development across levels.The ceremony in Lucknow recognised athletes and organisations across more than 45 sporting categories, honouring performances delivered during the evaluation period from January 1 to December 31, 2025.The award reflected the state’s focus on expanding access to sports at the grassroots level. Across more than 57,000 gram panchayats, initiatives have been undertaken to develop playgrounds, open gyms and basic sporting infrastructure, integrating sports into village-level planning alongside education and community facilities. At the administrative level, Uttar Pradesh has moved towards a tiered infrastructure model, with mini stadiums being developed at the block level and larger stadiums at the district level. International-standard venues are being built in cities such as Varanasi and Gorakhpur, while existing infrastructure continues to operate in Lucknow and Kanpur.Institutional development has also been a key area of focus. The state has initiated the establishment of its first sports university in Meerut, alongside plans for sports colleges and Centres of Excellence across divisional headquarters. These initiatives are aimed at preparing athletes for future global events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games."Over the past 11–12 years, a sports culture has developed in the country. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have taken this forward in Uttar Pradesh since 2017," UP CM Yogi Adityanath said while addressing the gathering.Policy measures have also been introduced to support athletes beyond competition. More than 500 sportspersons have been provided government employment across departments, including roles in the police and sports administration, while continuing to remain connected with training and mentorship pathways.Meanwhile, athletes from Uttar Pradesh were also recognised with a Special Honour as they were felicitated for their contributions across disciplines.Among those honoured were cricketers Kuldeep Yadav and Deepti Sharma, both of whom played key roles for India across formats during the year.In hockey, Lalit Upadhyay and Rajkumar Pal were recognised for their contributions.Para-sports representation included Suhas Yathiraj in badminton and Praveen Kumar in para-athletics, both of whom continued to deliver results in global competitions.Somjeet Singh, captain of the Indian wheelchair cricket team, was also honoured, along with sprinter Rupal Chaudhary, who competed in track events during the year.The winners were selected by an illustrious jury comprising legendary athletes whose achievements have shaped Indian sport.Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, Mithali Raj, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Leander Paes, and Devendra Jhajharia formed the panel for this edition.Their collective experience ensured that the honours reflected contributions across levels, recognising efforts that shaped India’s sporting ecosystem.