UP government has announced six new sports hostels for seven sports, including table tennis, badminton, basketball, etc. Till date, cricket and hockey were on the state radar, but improved performance of Indians in Olympics has shifted the limelight.

Sports directorate has listed half a dozen sports for the sports hostels including table tennis, badminton, handball, basketball, judo, archery and kabaddi. The state will have new sports hostels for the listed games and notification for the selection of players has been issued. The trials at the commissionaire level were conducted last month itself. Now, state level selection will be held in Barabanki, except for archery, which may probably be tested in Meerut.


For basketball, minimum height has been fixed 167 cm for under 14 and 172 cm for under 19. For badminton and table tennis, only players below 12 years are eligible while the rest of the teams will be under 14 and under 16 years of age.

The move has come up to improve the condition of sports at the grass root level. State government wants good representation and moreover, good results, said Jamal Haider, the sports officer, Moradabad, in a press conference.


Till date, cricket and hockey were on the state radar and other sportspersons were dependent upon the respective sports associations till now. This move comes in the wake of improved show by Indians in the recent Beijing Olympics and the limelight has now turned towards the Olympic sports.