Jaipur to Host Maharana Pratap Sports University Funded at Rs 101 Crore
Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma announced on Saturday, August 8, that a state‑run Maharana Pratap Sports University will be constructed in Jaipur with an outlay of about 101 crore rupees. Addressing a gathering at the Constitution Club, Sharma honored top athletes Arundhati Chaudhary, Yashveer Singh, Rahul Sharma, Mona Aggarwal and Sandhya Bishnoi, acknowledging the role of their mentors and families in their success.
He highlighted the athletes’ recent accolades: Arundhati’s gold in Commonwealth Games boxing, Yashveer’s bronze in javelin, Rahul’s gold at the Paralympic Shooting World Cup, Mona’s bronze in the same event, and Sandhya’s silver at the Under‑17 World Wrestling Championships.
The chief minister emphasized the impact of the central "Khelo India" programme, which supplies training, gear, medical services and financial support. Rajasthan has approved a 52‑crore incentive scheme for 3,540 athletes and created 186 government positions for sportspeople. The state also successfully staged the Khelo India University Games 2025, featuring 7,000 participants from 222 universities across seven cities, earning 60 medals and finishing third in the national tally.
Additional steps include the Sports Life Insurance Scheme, a spend of 18 crore on sports equipment, the rollout of 50 Khelo India Centres, and the creation of a Centre of Excellence for athletics, archery and boxing at Sawai Man Singh Stadium. The Rajasthan Youth Policy‑2026 promises new avenues in education, skill building, sports and leadership, while the "One District‑One Sport" program nurtures district‑specific sports.
To strengthen Olympic preparation, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme and Khelo Rajasthan Youth Games will identify and develop talent at the grassroots, also promoting traditional games. Sharma assured that these actions will cement Rajasthan’s status as a leading sports state. Medalists were presented with commendation letters and cash prizes, with Arundhati allotted 1 crore and Yashveer receiving 30 lakh.