• By Akansha Pandey
  • Sat, 29 Nov 2025 02:33 PM (IST)
  • Source:Jagran News Network
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Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, announced that the sports landscape of Western Uttar Pradesh is poised for a major transformation over the next few years. Speaking at an event in Meerut, the Minister confirmed that a Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre will soon be established in the region.

New Infrastructure And Proposals

The proposed SAI Centre is planned to be built in the vicinity of Meerut. The state government has already completed a survey and sent the proposal to the central government for approval.

Launch Of 'Bharat Edge'

During the event at the Kailash Prakash Sports Stadium, the Minister launched "Bharat Edge" (Sports and Entrepreneurship Development for Growth and Excellence). He clarified that Bharat Edge is not a government programme but a campaign designed to connect government schemes, athletes and technical education.

He called for joint efforts to increase sports goods production, enhance athletic talent and improve worker skills.

Skill Development Hubs At ITIs

To support this vision, 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country have been identified where additional space is available. These locations will host skill development programmes and training for athletes.

Regional Hub: The ITI in Saket, Meerut, has been designated as a hub for this initiative.

Connectivity: Several districts in Western Uttar Pradesh will be connected to this hub.

Economic Targets For the Sports Industry

Minister Chaudhary outlined ambitious economic goals for the sports sector:

Meerut's Potential: The local sports industry has the potential to manufacture products worth Rs 40,000 crore by 2035.

National Goal: The target is to produce sports goods worth Rs 50 lakh crore in the country by 2047.

Impact: Achieving these targets would provide employment to 3 crore people, with the sports industry contributing 2 per cent to India's economy.

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Call For Investment And Future Outlook

Jayant Chaudhary urged all state governments to invest in education, sports, and skills. He noted that while such investments may not yield immediate political benefits, they will provide a 10-fold return in the future and impact the grassroots level.

Highligting India's growing prominence in sports, he mentioned:

  • The Commonwealth Games are set to be held in India again in 2030.
  • Recent successes hosting the World Chess Championship (Goa), the Boxing World Cup (Noida)—where Indian boxers won the highest number of medals—and the World Fencing Championship.
  • The victory of the women's team in blind cricket.

Concluding his address, the Minister emphasized the need to empower athletes and suggested establishing systems such as scholarships for emerging athletes aged between 14 and 18.

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