CM Yogi Adityanath with cricketer Deepti Sharma (Video grab)

Uttar Pradesh has stepped up its efforts to emerge as a major sporting hub, with the government led by Yogi Adityanath rolling out one of the most ambitious incentive structures for athletes in the country. The state’s focus is clear — encouraging youth to pursue sports as a serious career option rather than just a recreational activity.At the heart of this push is a comprehensive monetary rewards scheme for medal winners across international and national competitions. The government has announced a whopping Rs 6 crore for an individual Olympic gold medallist from the state, along with Rs 4 crore for silver and Rs 2 crore for bronze. Team event winners are also generously rewarded, with Rs 3 crore for gold, Rs 2 crore for silver and Rs 1 crore for bronze.Massive rewards aimed at inspiring the next generationThe incentive structure extends beyond the Olympics to other major international events such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Athletes winning individual gold medals in these competitions will receive Rs 3 crore, while silver and bronze medallists will be awarded Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 75 lakh respectively.At the national level too, the state has ensured recognition for excellence. Individual gold medallists will receive Rs 6 lakh, silver winners Rs 4 lakh and bronze medallists Rs 2 lakh. For team events, the rewards stand at Rs 2 lakh for gold, Rs 1 lakh for silver and Rs 50,000 for bronze.This structured approach aims to build a strong pipeline of athletes from grassroots to elite levels, ensuring that talent is both identified and rewarded consistently.Job security and long-term support for athletesBeyond financial incentives, the Uttar Pradesh government has also prioritised post-career security for sportspersons through job provisions in various state departments. Since Yogi Adityanath took office, more than 500 athletes have been given government jobs, mostly in the police department. International medallists are often recruited as gazetted officers, underlining the state’s commitment to recognising sporting excellence.Prominent examples include India women’s cricketer Deepti Sharma, who was appointed as a DSP in the UP Police after her standout performances, and track star Parul Chaudhary, who also serves in a similar role. The policy has provided athletes with both financial stability and social recognition.Interestingly, the state’s support has extended beyond its own athletes as well. After the Tokyo Olympics, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra was honoured by the UP government despite not being from the state, reflecting its broader commitment to celebrating sporting success.The state’s growing sporting ecosystem will also be on display during the upcoming The Times of India Sports Awards, set to be held in Lucknow on March 21, 2026. Athletes from Uttar Pradesh feature prominently among the nominees, with 15 names — including 13 athletes and two coaches — earning recognition across disciplines such as athletics, cricket, hockey, shooting and para sports.From cricketers like Deepti Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav to track and field athletes such as Gulveer Singh, Sachin Yadav, Parul Chaudhary and Rupal Chaudhary, the state’s representation underlines the impact of sustained policy support.

Kuldeep Yadav (R) with Vanshika Chaddha (Pic credit: Kuldeep’s Instagram post)

NEW DELHI: Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav began a new chapter in his life after marrying childhood friend Vanshika Chaddha in a private yet star-studded ceremony in the hill town of Mussoorie on Saturday. A day after the celebrations, the left-arm wrist spinner shared his first social media post since the wedding, writing: “Our Forever begins now. 14.03.2026.” alongside pictures from the ceremony.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The wedding was held at the iconic Welcomhotel The Savoy, Mussoorie, which was reportedly reserved for several days to host the ceremonies and guests. The celebrations were attended by several current and former cricketers, including Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal and Suresh Raina, who joined the couple in marking the special occasion.

Social media soon filled with glimpses of the festivities, including viral clips of the newlyweds walking hand-in-hand as fireworks lit up the backdrop. Photos from the colourful sangeet ceremony also spread widely online, with Raina and Chahal sharing pictures of the couple dressed in coordinated traditional outfits.India batter Tilak Varma, who arrived in Dehradun to attend the ceremony, said the focus would soon shift to cricket again with the upcoming Indian Premier League season. “We’re going to Kuldeep’s wedding to have fun. After that, we’ll prepare for IPL,” Tilak told reporters ahead of the wedding. Reports suggest the wedding was originally planned for November 2025 but was postponed as Kuldeep prioritised preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. The spinner was part of India’s title-winning squad, although he featured only once during the tournament, returning tidy figures against arch-rivals Pakistan.Kuldeep and Vanshika, both from Kanpur and known to have grown up just a few kilometres apart, had got engaged last year in a private ceremony in Lucknow. Vanshika currently works with LIC.The wedding celebrations began with traditional haldi and sangeet functions earlier in the week, attended by several cricket personalities and close family members.

Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav will marry his longtime partner Vanshika Chadha on March 14 in Mussoorie. The couple, childhood friends from Kanpur, saw their friendship grow into a lifelong relationship. Vanshika works at the Life Insurance Corporation of India and maintains a private life away from the spotlight. Wedding festivities begin March 13, with cricket stars like Virat Kohli expected to attend.

Preparations are in full swing in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, for the wedding of Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav, who is set to marry his longtime partner Vanshika Chadha on March 14. While the wedding has attracted significant attention because of the star cricketer, many people are also curious about the bride and her background.

Who is Kuldeep Yadav’s bride-to-be Vanshika Chadha?

Vanshika Chadha shares a long-standing bond with Kuldeep Yadav that dates back to their childhood. The two grew up in Kanpur and were friends long before their relationship developed into a lifelong partnership. Kuldeep hails from Lal Bungalow in Kanpur, while Vanshika is from the Shyam Nagar area of the city.Their friendship gradually turned into a serious relationship over the years. Despite Kuldeep’s fame in international cricket, Vanshika has largely remained away from the public spotlight and has maintained a private life.

What does Vanshika Chadha do?

Professionally, Vanshika Chadha works with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), one of India’s most respected financial institutions. According to reports, she holds an administrative or managerial role within the organisation.Unlike many partners of high-profile athletes, Vanshika has built a stable career outside the glamour and attention that often accompanies celebrity life. She is also known to keep a low public profile and is rarely seen on social media or at public events.While Kuldeep Yadav’s cricketing achievements have kept him in the limelight for years, Vanshika Chadha has chosen a quieter path. Very little is publicly known about her personal life, and she has stayed largely out of media attention.Those close to the couple say Vanshika has been a steady support system for Kuldeep throughout the ups and downs of his cricket career. Her preference for privacy has only increased public curiosity about the woman who will soon marry the Indian cricket star.The wedding celebrations are set to begin on March 13 with traditional Haldi and Mehendi ceremonies. The couple will tie the knot on March 14 in Mussoorie in the presence of close friends and family.Several prominent cricket personalities are expected to attend the ceremony, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah, along with officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.Following the private mountain wedding, the couple will host a grand reception in Lucknow on March 17, which is expected to attract cricket stars, political leaders, and other prominent guests.

Kuldeep Yadav (R) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s heavy defeat to South Africa in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has triggered a blunt reality check, with former batter Sanjay Manjrekar urging the side to “be humble” and quickly address key flaws to stay in title contention.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A dominant South Africa piled up 187/7 before bundling India out for just 111. The crushing loss not only dented India’s momentum but also exposed glaring tactical and technical weaknesses.

Reflecting on the defeat, Manjrekar said on his Instagram post, “A big defeat to India against South Africa. So, the first strong team that India has played, and they have not really coped well against that team. But the good news is that India is not out of the tournament.”He added that the loss could serve as a blessing in disguise if India respond correctly.“So what South Africa have done – and we have to be humble and respect the opposition and in a way thank them – is that they have shown us three areas of improvement that we can still work on and end up getting into the final rounds and hopefully win the title,” he said.Manjrekar identified India’s struggles against spin as the most pressing concern and called for a batting order reshuffle.“The first area of concern is an obvious one: India is struggling against spin. So how do you solve that? Try to rearrange the batting order in a way that naturally good players of spin are batting up the order, and people like Tilak Varma, who is struggling a little bit, can come down the order,” he said. He also flagged the team’s vulnerability against pace-off deliveries, including from captain Suryakumar Yadav.“The other thing which was glaring in this game against South Africa was even the pace bowlers, when they take the pace off, Indian batters are struggling. The captain seemed like the one who struggled most now when the pace is taken off.”Manjrekar further stressed the need to strengthen the bowling attack rather than adding extra batting depth.“The third is an easily solvable problem. When the batting is uncertain, not firing, very often you try and get more batting depth. There’s another way to cover that weakness, and that is by having a stronger bowling attack. So get Kuldeep Yadav in.”“So yes, try and make a change that is possible and immediately effective, and then work on the more complex problems… If done quickly, India still have a great chance of getting into the final rounds,” he concluded.

Pakistan cricket team (AP/PTI)

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign has reached a critical juncture. A win against Namibia in their final league fixture on Wednesday is non-negotiable if Salman Agha’s men are to keep their Super 8 hopes alive. Anything less, and their tournament ends prematurely.The pressure has mounted quickly. After bold claims that this was a stronger outfit than the one that faltered against India in the Asia Cup, Pakistan suffered a familiar 61-run defeat on Sunday. While their clashes with India in the 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups were tight, they still fell short. Since the Asia Cup, India have now registered four comfortable wins on the trot, reinforcing Pakistan’s struggles in marquee encounters.

Scrutiny has intensified around senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. Shaheen failed to control the game in the PowerPlay or at the death, returning figures of 1 for 31 in two overs. Babar’s issues against spin continue to surface — his strike-rate against spin since returning to the T20I side stands at 101.70 — raising questions about balance and intent in the middle order.Selection dilemmas loom. Salman Mirza and Fakhar Zaman are in contention should the management opt for changes. Pakistan’s heavy reliance on spin — 13, 16 and 18 overs across three games — also reflects a side still searching for the right combination.Namibia, though eliminated, are not without motivation. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon as co-hosts, they are keen to gather momentum. For Pakistan, though, the equation is simple: win or go home.In the other fixture, India face the Netherlands in the night game. Having already secured qualification for the Super 8s with three wins from three matches, India will view this contest as an opportunity to fine-tune combinations and tick a few remaining boxes.Abhishek Sharma is yet to get going in this T20 World Cup, and the team management will be keen for their No. 1 batter to spend valuable time at the crease ahead of the knockout stage. Getting runs under his belt could prove crucial in the business end of the tournament.There could also be changes in the bowling department. Kuldeep Yadav might make way for Arshdeep Singh, who was included as an extra spinner against Pakistan. With qualification already secured, India may use this match to test their bench strength and settle on the most balanced XI for the Super 8s.

Today T20 World Cup matches – Tuesday, 18 February