BY KULDEEP SINGH YADAV
Samajwadi Party national president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav met Mirzapur’s Ashish Yadav and Asmita Dey on August 16, congratulating both athletes on their recent international achievements. Ashish won a silver medal at the Under-20 World Athletics Championships, while Asmita secured a gold medal in the women’s 48-kg judo category at the Commonwealth Games. Yadav honoured the two athletes and praised them for bringing recognition to the country, Uttar Pradesh and their families. Congratulating them on their success, Yadav said their achievements were the result of hard work, discipline and determination.
He wished both athletes a successful career ahead and said that young sportspersons need encouragement and proper opportunities to reach their full potential. Yadav also spoke about the Samajwadi Party’s approach towards sports and sportspersons. He recalled that during previous Samajwadi Party governments in Uttar Pradesh, athletes who performed well at national and international competitions were recognised and honoured. Several prominent sportspersons were also conferred the Yash Bharti Award for their contribution and achievements.
During his tenure as Chief Minister, Yadav had made a point of recognising athletes who brought distinction to India and Uttar Pradesh at major international events. Sportspersons who excelled at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games were honoured, while his government also introduced measures aimed at encouraging sporting talent across the state. For Yadav, winning a medal is only one part of an athlete’s journey.
He has repeatedly emphasised the need for proper financial support, training facilities, recognition and opportunities so that talented athletes can continue to compete at the highest level. Such support, he believes, can also inspire young people to take up sports and pursue them seriously. During his government, steps were taken to provide greater incentives and increase rewards for athletes who achieved success in international competitions. The broader aim was to create better opportunities for promising sportspersons across Uttar Pradesh and ensure that financial or institutional limitations did not stand in the way of their ambitions.
The recent achievements of Ashish Yadav and Asmita Dey have once again drawn attention to the growing potential of India’s young athletes. Asmita’s gold in the women’s 48-kg judo category is a notable achievement for Indian judo, while Ashish’s silver at the Under-20 World Athletics Championships underlines the promise of India’s emerging athletics talent. Yadav said the Samajwadi Party would continue to encourage and support sportspersons. He expressed confidence that if the party returns to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2027, athletes would once again be given due recognition and encouragement, with the promotion of sports remaining an important priority.
