New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday highlighted direct recruitment of sportspersons under the state's 'Padak Lao, Pad Pao' initiative, alongside cash awards for medal winners and the expansion of sports infrastructure. His remarks came on the sixth day of Sharadiya Navratri, when he also described Maa Katyayani as a symbol of women's courage and resolve.

In a post on X, Adityanath said the state had undergone a transformation over the past nine and a half years, with greater emphasis on security, encouragement and opportunities for girls to develop their sporting abilities. He criticised the period before 2017, alleging that fear, lawlessness and a lack of resources had restricted opportunities fo...