LUCKNOW, Oct. 9 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday told 470 sportspersons selected under the skilled sportsperson quota for the Uttar Pradesh Police that their appointment marked the beginning rather than the end of their sporting journey. "Reels get you likes, but the sports field gives you life," he said. He then expanded his political attack, alleging that the previous SP government had "nurtured 10 lakh goons", while his government had provided government jobs to 10 lakh youths. "When the Samajwadi Party talks about giving jobs to youth, it is like a crocodile preaching peace," he said. He also urged young people to stay away from liquor and the SP, alleging that both had contributed to the state's decline. Contrasting Uttar Pradesh's image before and after 2017, Yogi alleged that the state was earlier associated with mining, recruitment and riverfront scams, whereas it was now known for sporting institutions and achievements. He cited the Sports University in Meerut, sports colleges and centres of excellence in every division, along with the "one district, one medical college" and "one district, one product" initiatives. Referring to India's medal haul at the Asian Games, Yogi said the country's identity had changed from being associated with the 2010 Commonwealth Games controversy to being recognised for sporting achievements. "There is a difference between murder and medals. One destroys recognition, while the other brings recognition," he said. Yogi also linked his government's action against land mafia to its sports infrastructure programme, claiming that about 64,000 hectares of land had been freed from illegal occupation and was being used to develop sports grounds, mini-stadiums, stadiums and international-standard facilities. He said sports colleges were being developed in every division, with centres of excellence equipped with international-level facilities and trained coaches. The chief minister also asked the newly recruited sportspersons to become part of the state's campaign against drugs. He suggested that police sportspersons could adopt villages and visit them regularly to organise sporting activities and connect young people with sports. On career progression, Yogi assured the recruits that only merit would matter for their promotions. "No one can delay your promotion. If anyone does so, we will delay him instead," he said. His remarks come ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, with Yogi increasingly using the PDA-versus-NDA formulation in his attacks on the opposition. A day earlier, he had described the emerging contest as an "80-20" battle between the NDA and PDA. The programme also saw the inauguration of sports infrastructure projects, including a synthetic athletics track and 150-player sports hostel at the 35th Battalion PAC in Lucknow; an astro-turf hockey ground and 150-player hostel at the 10th Battalion PAC in Barabanki; an indoor sports complex at the 41st Battalion PAC in Ghaziabad; and a kabaddi ground with a tin shed at the 47th Battalion PAC in Ghaziabad. Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said the appointment of sportspersons should not mark the end of their sporting careers. Minister of state (independent charge) for sports and youth welfare Girish Chandra Yadav and DGP Rajeev Krishna said 950 skilled sportspersons had been recruited into the UP Police since 2022. He said sportspersons had also received out-of-turn promotions....