Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said, “Our goal is not just to win medals , but to build a strong sports culture where talent finds opportunity , hard work is respected, and every youth has the confidence to realize their dreams.” He said that the government is not just providing awards , but is building a strong foundation of sports power for a developed India.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was speaking as the chief guest at a cash prize distribution ceremony held in honor of the state’s outstanding sportspersons at the auditorium of the PWD Rest House, Sector 1, Panchkula. Minister of State for Sports Gaurav Gautam was also present on the occasion.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister honoured 198 players of the state who participated and won medals in major international and national level sports competitions by giving them cash prize money of Rs 20.59 crore. This includes prize money of Rs 13.75 crore to 117 players of world level competitions , Rs 2.32 crore to 3 players of Para Asian Games 2022 and Rs 4.52 crore to 78 national level players . He said that in the last 12 years, cash prize money of Rs 709 crore has been given to 16 thousand 984 players of the state and by adding today’s amount, it becomes about Rs 730 crore.
While congratulating the honoured players, the Chief Minister said that the moment of winning a medal may last for a few minutes , but the journey to reach that moment goes through years of hard work.
He said that the soil of our country has produced such players who have taught the entire world that no matter how difficult the circumstances are , if the intentions are strong then history can be changed. Citing the example of Milkha Singh, also known as Flying Sikh , Murlikant Petkar and Mary Kom, he said that the life journey of these three teaches us only one thing that challenges come in everyone’s life , but only the one who does not bow down before the challenges , but fights them, becomes the winner. They did not let the adverse circumstances become the end of their goal , rather they made it their biggest strength , their biggest inspiration and the basis of their biggest victory.
Nayab Singh Saini said that he is proud that Haryana has always given the country such players who have held India’s head high in front of the world. Although our share in the country’s population may be only about two percent , but Haryana’s contribution in the medals won for India is more than one-third. Be it the Paris Olympics , Paralympics , Asian Games or Commonwealth Games , Haryana’s players have brought glory to India on every platform. While interacting with the players present, he said that as per the vision of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, you will be the players who will win medals in the Olympic Games of the year 2028, 2032 and 2036.
The Chief Minister said that today the entire world is entering the era of AI. Sports is no exception. Today, AI is analyzing players’ fitness, predicting the possibility of injury, helping to understand the opposing team’s strategy, and making training more scientific. He said that AI can measure your speed , tell your heart rate , and analyze your technique. But AI can never measure your passion , understand your patriotism , or create the emotion that is visible in the eyes of an athlete standing on the victory podium with the tricolor on his shoulders. In his message to the players, the Chief Minister said that they should certainly use technology , but always keep the human within them alive because the future belongs to those who carry both technology and human values together.
Referring to various important steps taken to encourage sportspersons in the state, the Chief Minister said that 260 sportspersons have been given government jobs under the Haryana Outstanding Sportsperson Recruitment Rules. Recently, the sports grading policy has been amended, due to which now the players of Haryana State Games will also get the benefit of sports grading. Apart from this, the monthly honorarium of award winning players has been increased. Under this, Khel Ratna , Dronacharya , Arjuna , Dhyanchand and Tenzing Norgay winners are getting an honorarium of Rs 20 thousand per month, and Bhim Award winners are getting an honorarium of Rs 5 thousand per month.
The Chief Minister said that every champion begins in the village soil and school grounds. Keeping this in mind, the state government has opened 2,000 sports nurseries , provided monthly scholarships of Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,000 for athletes aged 8 to 19, and provided Rs. 500 per day as diet money at 25 residential sports academies . Over 12 years , Rs. 1,100 crore has been spent on sports infrastructure , and the Sports Department’s budget has increased from Rs. 163 crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 668.42 crore today . He added that North India’s first A-Star Scientific Training and Rehabilitation Center has been established at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula at a cost of ₹10 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Sports, Gaurav Gautam, said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana has emerged as a hub for sports. Better infrastructure is being provided to athletes so that they can work hard and excel in various national and international competitions, bringing glory to the state and the country.
He said that under the Chief Minister’s guidance, Mission 2036 has been launched , under which Haryana has set a target of winning 36 medals. With this goal in mind, modern sports facilities are being made available to athletes. The infrastructure of sports stadiums is being strengthened at a cost of approximately Rs. 300 crore. He said that today Haryana’s sports policy is being praised throughout the country. As a result of Haryana’s sports policy and the hard work of the players, the state’s athletes are consistently performing exceptionally well in national and international competitions, bringing glory to the state and the country.
