Chandigarh, November 11 - Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Naib Singh Saini said that sports are the power that gives a positive direction to the energy of the youth. When the youth runs in the field, they become a participant in nation building with discipline while staying away from drugs.
Chief Minister Mr. Naib Singh Saini was addressing the players at the inauguration of Haryana State Championship-2025 in Baragarh, Narayangarh (Ambala) today. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Hockey Astroturf Ground and Forlane Synthetic Athletic Track to be built at a cost of Rs. 16 crore 71 lakh in this stadium. The Chief Minister honored boxer Harnoor Kaur, who won a silver medal in the Asian Games held in October.
The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has rightly said – the player who performs his best on the field, always comes first in life. He said that the players of Haryana have shown this by implementing this saying of the Prime Minister in their lives. Our land has been the land of heroes, players and hard workers for centuries. Be it Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or National Championship, the boys and girls of Haryana have brought glory to the country everywhere. The players of the state are to be congratulated for this.
Shri Naib Singh Saini said that I am experiencing great joy and excitement after coming to this holy land of Baragarh. It includes a group of more than 4 thousand energetic youth of the state. As far as the eye can see, every face is looking enthusiastic and there is only one resolution beating in every heart that whoever comes on the field, we will come back victorious.
The Chief Minister said that the youth's cry echoed in the field, always keep the thought of victory, learn from defeat, do not lose courage, fill new flight and ride your dreams. With this championship, the players will be successful in raising their sports level even higher. He said that this championship is being held at a time when we are celebrating the 360th martyrdom year of the ninth guru of India, Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, since November 1. Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji sacrificed his life to protect the country and religion and raised his voice against injustice, religious fanaticism and oppression. He said that it was permissible for Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji to have his head cut off, but he did not get distracted from his religion. His martyrdom year is being celebrated across the state to inspire you youth with many sacrifices, renunciation and principles.
The Chief Minister said that the construction of this track will give a new lift to the dreams of our youth. Also, this modern hockey astroturf ground will prove to be an effective step in making Haryana the Sports Power of India. He said that players like Rani Rampal and Savita Punia have led the country from the Astroturf ground built in the Hockey Academy located in Shahabad, in the same way, the players coming out of here will make a name for themselves in the country and abroad. This stadium will also be called the nursery of hockey like Shahabad.
Mr. Naib Singh Saini said that with the construction of this four-lane synthetic athletic track, basic sports like athletics will also get a new direction. Every sport starts with a race, and when the race starts with a modern track, its results will also be world-class.
The Chief Minister said that the government has taken the initiative to develop sports facilities across the state. For this, the budget of the Sports Department has also been more than doubled. A provision of Rs 589 crore 69 lakh has been made for sports in the budget of this financial year.
He said that at present, the state has 3 state-level sports complexes, 21 district-level sports stadiums, 25 sub-division stadiums, 163 Rajiv Gandhi Rural Sports Complexes, 245 rural stadiums, 10 swimming pools, 11 synthetic athletics tracks, 14 hockey astroturfs and 2 foot ball synthetic grounds and 9 multipurpose halls. Apart from this, Haryana Sports University has been established in Rai, Sonipat.
The Chief Minister said that the government has opened sports nurseries in the state to groom sportsmen from childhood. The number of sports nurseries in the state has been increased from 1,500 to 2 thousand. In these nurseries, players between the ages of 8 to 14 are given Rs. 1500 and budding players between the ages of 15 to 19 are given Rs. 2000 per month. Not only this, sports nursery coaches are also being given an honorarium of up to Rs. 25000.
Mr. Naib Singh Saini Saini said that due to these sports activities and better sports policy, the players will be successful in winning the maximum number of medals for Haryana in the upcoming 2028, 2032 and 2036 Olympic Games. Among them will be the players participating in this championship. Along with this, if the players play with sportsmanship, hard work and confidence, then the pride of Haryana will increase and the flag of India will fly high.
The Chief Minister, while shedding light on the sports achievements, said that out of the 6 medals won by the country's players in the Paris Olympics, 2024, 5 medals were won by Haryana players. The state's performance in the Asian Games has also been very commendable. Out of the country's 111 medals in the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022, 28 medals were won by Haryana players. He said that Haryana players have always dominated in the Commonwealth Games as well. These achievements are the result of Haryana's visionary sports policies.
Principal Secretary of the Sports Department Navdeep Singh, Director General Sanjeev Verma, Chairman Dharambir Mirzapur, former MLA Dr. Pawan Saini along with many senior officials and respected citizens and a large number of players were present in the state-level sports program.