Chandigarh, February 13 – Haryana Cooperation, Heritage and Tourism Minister, Dr. Arvind Sharma said that under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the government has created a conducive environment for sports and sportspersons. As a result, Haryana’s athletes are performing excellently not only at the national level but also at the international level. He expressed confidence that Haryana players will deliver strong performances at the Commonwealth Games to be held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in 2030 and will repeat this success in the upcoming Olympics. He said that interest in sports is growing in every household and among the youth, making Haryana a leading sporting state in the country.
Cooperation Minister, Dr. Arvind Sharma said this while attending a grand Kabaddi tournament held on the occasion of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti in village Mahra, Gohana Assembly constituency as the Chief Guest.
While addressing the gathering he said that since 2014, Haryana has made remarkable progress in several sectors. The Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi has also appreciated Haryana’s sports policy and the capability of its players, and other states are now adopting similar policies.
Dr. Sharma said that out of the 126 athletes who represented the country in the Tokyo Olympics, 32 were from Haryana. Of the seven medals won by India, Haryana athletes contributed significantly by winning one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. Similarly, in the 2024 Olympics, Haryana players won five out of the six medals secured by the country. Over the last 11 years, around 16,500 players have been awarded cash prizes worth Rs.700 crore, and 231 talented sportspersons have been given government jobs. Athletes are being provided with better training facilities and an encouraging environment for international competitions so they can continue to bring pride to the state and the nation, he added.
Dr. Sharma also inaugurated several development projects worth Rs. 40 lakh in village Mahra and laid the foundation stone of a Brahmin Chaupal to be built at a cost of Rs.12 lakh. He also announced the construction of a boundary wall and shed for the village sports academy.
