Chandigarh, September 13: Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that players should set their goal of winning medals at the Olympic Games. He said that Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has set a target of establishing India as a sports superpower in the 2036 Olympic Games, and the state government has already begun preparations in this direction.
The Chief Minister was addressing players from across the country at the inaugural ceremony of Yonex-Sunrise Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2025 in Panchkula today. On this occasion, the Chief Minister declared the Badminton Tournament open and announced to give Rs 11 lakh to the Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula from this discretionary fund.
Former Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and Chairman of the Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula, Sh Gian Chand Gupta; Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Sh Alok Mittal; Commissioner and Secretary, Finance Department, Mohammed Shayin ; Deputy Commissioner, Sh Satpal Sharma, Joint Secretary, Haryana Badminton Association Sh Jatinder Kumar Mahajan, Vice President of Badminton Association of India Sh Ajay Kumar Singhania, President, Sports Promotion Society Panchkula Sh D.P Soni were also present.
Welcoming around 2,000 players from different states to Haryana, Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that victory and defeat are part of the game, but your passion and sportsmanship are what makes you a great player. He added that the players’ goal should not be limited to the Asian Junior Badminton Tournament, but should extend to winning medals for India at the Olympic Games.
Describing Haryana as a sports hub, the Chief Minister said that players from the state have brought laurels to both the country and Haryana by winning medals at international competitions. He said that about 11 years ago, a vision for sports was formulated in Haryana, under which players have been encouraged with the mantra ‘Khele Haryana–Badhe Haryana’ and extensive sports infrastructure has been developed. Whether it is stadiums, indoor halls, or residential sports academies, the government has ensured the establishment of modern sports facilities in every district of the state.
He informed that the state government has set up sports nurseries to nurture talent from an early age, due to which Haryana is known as the ‘nursery of sports. Financial assistance and professional training are being provided to budding players through these nurseries. At present, 1,489 sports nurseries are operational in the state, where 37,225 players are receiving training. In these nurseries Players aged 8 to 14 years are given Rs 1,500 per month, while those between 15 and 19 years receive Rs 2,000 per month.
Referring to the achievements of Haryana’s sportspersons, the Chief Minister said that whether it is the Olympic Games, Asian Games, or Commonwealth Games, players from Haryana have made the nation proud by raising the tricolor on every stage. He highlighted that out of the six medals won by India at the Paris Olympics 2024, five were secured by Haryana’s players. Similarly, in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, four out of the seven medals for India came from Haryana. He added that the state’s performance in the Asian Games has also been highly commendable.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has implemented the ‘Haryana Utkrisht Khiladi Seva Niyam, 2021’ to ensure secure employment for outstanding sportspersons. Under this, 550 new posts have been created in the Sports Department. In addition, 224 players with commendable performances at the international level have been provided government jobs. Provision of reservation for sportspersons has been made in direct recruitment to posts from Class I to Class III.
Congratulating and extending his best wishes to all the badminton players, Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that badminton is a sport which not only sharpens physical skills and technical proficiency, but also reflects mental toughness, discipline, and dedication. He described badminton as a unique blend of speed, strategy, and stamina. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also motivated the players by playing badminton himself.
He said that badminton has gained unprecedented popularity in India over the last few decades, credit for which goes to the legendary players who have made the nation proud on the world stage. These include stalwarts like Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, and Lakshya Sen, who have also inspired lakhs of young people to take up the sport.
The Chief Minister urged all players to play as a team, support one another, and learn from each other, emphasizing that their unity is their greatest strength.
Addressing the gathering, former Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and Chairman of the Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula, Sh Gian Chand Gupta said that the Society was established 15 years ago to promote sports among youth and steer them away from drug addiction. He informed that since its inception, the Society has been organizing annual sports competitions such as Kabaddi, Badminton, and Cricket in the district, while also felicitating medal winners to recognize and encourage their achievements.
