Sports Infrastructure Push Accelerates in Uttarakhand with 23 New Academies and Himadri Ice Rink Expansion

Uttarakhand has announced a major expansion of its sports infrastructure network with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami unveiling plans to establish 23 sports academies across eight cities under a new Sports Legacy Plan. The announcement came during the first anniversary celebrations of the renovated Himadri Ice Rink in Dehradun, currently India’s only international standard indoor ice rink facility.

The state government said the academies will provide advanced annual training to nearly 920 elite athletes and around 1,000 additional sportspersons across multiple disciplines. Officials stated the move is aimed at strengthening Uttarakhand’s long term athlete development system ahead of future national and international sporting competitions.

Speaking in Dehradun, Pushkar Singh Dhamidescribed Himadri Ice Rink as “a matter of pride for the entire nation,” highlighting its growing role in India’s winter sports ecosystem. The facility, located at Maharana Pratap Sports College, was renovated at an estimated cost of ₹8.5 crore and reopened last year after remaining shut for over a decade due to maintenance challenges

The rink has already hosted several major events over the past year, including the National Ice Skating Championship, National Ice Hockey League, Asian Trophy, and training camps for Indian women’s and junior national teams. Officials also confirmed that the Indian Ice Hockey Team recently used the venue for a national training camp.

To support sustainable operations, the government has installed a one megawatt solar power plant at the venue, making the project part of Uttarakhand’s broader environmentally focused sports infrastructure strategy.

Dhami additionally confirmed that work is progressing on Uttarakhand’s first Sports University in Haldwani and a dedicated Women’s Sports College in Lohaghat. The state has also implemented a revised sports policy offering government jobs to medal winners at national and international competitions.

The Himadri Ice Rink, first developed for the 2011 South Asian Winter Games, remains one of the few full sized indoor ice arenas in India capable of hosting ice hockey, figure skating, and short track speed skating competitions.

Sportscape feels that Uttarakhand’s latest sports infrastructure expansion reflects a growing state level push toward specialised high performance training ecosystems in India.

By investing simultaneously in winter sports, academies, and university level infrastructure, Uttarakhand is attempting to position itself as a long term multi sport development hub rather than relying solely on traditional cricket focused investments.