GORAKHPUR, Jan. 16 -- Describing sports as a powerful tool for youth empowerment and nation-building, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said universities and degree colleges must adopt at least one sport each to systematically groom young talent.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives, Yogi said the country had witnessed a major shift in its approach to sports over the past 11 years, with the emergence of a new sports culture.

"Before 2014, sports and sportspersons were not a priority for governments. Due to the lack of international-level infrastructure, athletes often felt neglected. Since 2014, initiatives such as Khelo India, Fit India and MP Sports Competitions have transformed the sports ecosystem and exten...