He also inaugurated a Centre of Excellence in Sports Goods Manufacturing (Badminton Racket Unit) at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut.
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Collaborative Approach: In partnership with Sports, Physical Education, Fitness & Leisure Skills Council (SPEFL-SC), British Asian India Foundation (BAIF) and NEST will develop evidence-based learning and improve operations management for the cluster.
BAIF and NEST plan to empower more than 5,000 nano-entrepreneurs including 1,000 women-led enterprises through targeted investments and capacity-building activities.
SportEdge Meerut is built on following strategic pillars
Industry & Market Assessment: Map Meerut’s sports ecosystem and benchmark with leading hubs in India and abroad to boost competitiveness and export potential.
Sustainable Livelihoods & Entrepreneurship: Strengthen women-led nano-enterprises and local supply chains by enhancing income, productivity, and financial access.
Local Sporting Talent Development: With schools and academies, conduct events and talent drives, identify 3–5 priority sports, and develop focused growth plans for each.
Gender Equity at the Core: Place women at the center of participation, enterprise development, and sporting opportunities to advance women-led entrepreneurship and leadership.
SportEdge aims to empower 1,000 women-led nano enterprises, helping them scale, formalize operations, and achieve financial independence. The initiative targets:
A minimum 25% increase in real income levels
Annual earnings of ₹1 lakh per entrepreneur
Long-term credit access for enterprise sustainability
Members of Parliament and local legislators will contribute funds from their Local Area Development (LAD) budgets to enhance sports infrastructure in Meerut.
UP Government’s Initiatives to promote Sports:
Infrastructure development: Major Dhyan Chand Sports University established in Meerut, as a hub for enterprise creation, structured skilling, and research in sports sciences, complementing the practical training delivered at district and block levels.
In the 2024–25 budget, ₹1,950 crore was earmarked for sports infrastructure.
One District One Sport (ODOS): Launched in 2022, modelled on the line of One District One Product (ODOP)
It aimed to map every district to a core sport, ensuring integrated outreach to nurture talent locally.
New Sports Policy 2023: It was approved to promote and foster sports culture in the state along with a dedicated state sports authority on the lines of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
