Chandigarh, August 26:- Haryana Sports Minister Mr. Gaurav Gautam said that in the 23rd Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow (Scotland), Indian players won a total of 13 gold medals, out of which 7 gold medals were won by the sons and daughters of Haryana alone. Our players have made India and Haryana proud all over the world with their hard work, discipline and unwavering loyalty to the national flag, the tricolour. He said that these medals won by the daughters have enhanced the pride of the tricolour all over the world and these players are role models for the entire country and the state.
The Minister was addressing the state-level felicitation ceremony of the medal winners and participants of the Commonwealth Games 2026 at the Indradhanush Auditorium in Panchkula today.
'Mission Olympics 2036: Vijay Bhav' begins
Minister of State for Sports Shri Gaurav Gautam said that the Haryana Government has already started preparations for 'Mission Olympics 2036: Vijay Bhav'. With the aim of providing the best facilities to the players on the global stage, the state's sports budget has been increased to Rs 850 crore. Our champion players will not only win record medals in the upcoming Olympics, but will also play an important role in realizing the vision of 'Developed India 2047' of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Strengthening of sports infrastructure and insurance cover
The Minister said that several historic steps are being taken to improve the sports talents in the state. On the lines of the historic Rs 36,000 crore sports budget of the Central Government, infrastructure will also be strengthened in Haryana in the coming one year. International standard synthetic tracks will be constructed in every district of the state. World class foreign coaches will be arranged for improving the technique of the players and for modern training.
He said that keeping in mind the risk of injury in the career of the players, the Haryana Government has decided to provide free insurance cover of Rs 20 lakh to each player, so that they can continue practicing without any worries.
He said that the government will provide loans of up to Rs 5 crore at a low interest rate to Arjuna Awardees and Olympic medalists to encourage new sports talents.
The Minister praised the state's grassroots sports model, saying that children start training in sports nurseries from the age of 8, become a part of resident nurseries till the age of 18, and then reach global platforms through 'TOPS' and 'Khelo India' and make the country proud. He said that on the strength of Haryana's best sports policy, the strength of the soil and the spirit of the players, India is today making waves in the Commonwealth, Asian and Olympic Games.