Haldwani, September 19 — Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Asian Cadet Cup India-2025 at Manaskhand Hall, Indira Gandhi International Sports Stadium, Haldwani, on Friday. The five-day international fencing tournament is being hosted by the Fencing Association of India under the aegis of the Asian Fencing Confederation and will run until September 23.
The Chief Minister lit the ceremonial lamp to open the event and expressed confidence that Indian youth will soon achieve international glory in fencing, just as they have in shooting, archery, and javelin throw. “Fencing has not received as much attention as other sports, but in recent years it has grown rapidly. With discipline and dedication, our players will bring laurels to the country,” he said, extending his best wishes to the participants.
Dhami highlighted the government’s initiatives to strengthen sports culture in the state, including the Chief Minister Sports Development Fund, Player Incentive Scheme, Emerging Players Scheme, and Sports Kit Scheme. He also referred to awards such as the Uttarakhand Khel Ratna and Himalaya Khel Ratna and noted that the government has reintroduced a 4 percent sports quota in government services. Medal winners at the national and international level are also being offered jobs under an “out-of-turn” appointment system.
He recalled that Uttarakhand athletes won 103 medals at the National Games, securing the state’s first-ever seventh position. The government, he said, has invested ₹517 crore in world-class sports infrastructure and is working on projects such as Uttarakhand’s first Sports University and Women’s Sports College in Haldwani. He also announced a Sports Legacy Plan to establish 23 sports academies in eight major cities.
The Chief Minister emphasized that sports development will also benefit tourism and local businesses. He acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives such as Khelo India and Fit India, which have strengthened India’s global sporting presence.
Tracing the roots of fencing to ancient India’s martial traditions, Dhami expressed pride that Uttarakhand is hosting the first-ever international fencing competition in India. He praised Arjuna Awardee Bhavani Devi for inspiring youth to pursue the sport through her performances at the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the Fencing Association of India, welcomed the Chief Minister and shared details of the tournament. Over 250 athletes, including 150 from India, are competing in boys’ and girls’ categories. Participants include players from Tajikistan, Syria, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia.
