Chandigarh, August 2 – Haryana witnessed a vibrant celebration of athleticism and youth energy today as Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini formally inaugurated the 6th State-Level Khel Mahakumbh at Panchkula’s Tau Devi Lal Stadium on Saturday. The large-scale sporting event will see participation from 15,410 athletes competing across 26 sports.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister stated that the Khel Mahakumbh is not just a sporting event; it is a powerful platform that nurtures young dreams and propels them toward national and global recognition. This initiative gives emerging athletes state-level exposure and prepares them for future national and international competitions, he said.
Notably, launched during Haryana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2017, the Khel Mahakumbh has since become a flagship initiative, with five successful editions already held.
Preparing for Olympic Glory in 2036
Highlighting Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi’s vision of hosting the 2036 Olympic Games in India and establishing the country as a sporting superpower, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini affirmed that Haryana is taking proactive steps in that direction. We have already begun preparations at scale. I am confident that Haryana will contribute the maximum number of medals to the national tally in 2036, he added.
He also underscored the state’s ambition of transforming every village into a cradle of sporting excellence, where at least one athlete emerges to represent the nation on the global stage. Our long-term vision isn’t just to make Haryana India’s sports capital, but the world’s, he said.
Round-the-Year Competitions and Sports Calendar
The Chief Minister said that apart from the Khel Mahakumbh, Haryana has rolled out an annual sports calendar packed with competitions such as traditional Akhada Dangal, boxing, volleyball, athletics, badminton, swimming, basketball, taekwondo, gymnastics, and handball, among others. Ten years ago, we envisioned connecting every child to sports, building playgrounds in every village, and providing youth with real opportunities. Today, that vision is becoming a reality, remarked Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
Haryana: The Nursery of Indian Sports
The Chief Minister said that because of its robust sports policy and grassroots development efforts, Haryana has earned a reputation as the “nursery of Indian sports.” From the Olympics to the Asian and Commonwealth Games, the state’s athletes have consistently made the nation proud, he said.
The Chief Minister further shared that in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, 4 of India’s 7 medals were won by athletes from Haryana. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, 5 out of the 6 medals won by India went to Haryana players. In the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, 82 athletes from the state participated, securing 28 of India’s 111 medals. Similarly, at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Haryana’s athletes brought home 20 medals. These achievements are the outcome of our visionary sports policies, said the Chief Minister.
Strong Support for Budding Talent
The Chief Minister emphasized that the Khel Mahakumbh serves as a launchpad for young talent aspiring to build a future in sports. To foster this ambition from an early age, the state has set up 1,489 sports nurseries where 37,225 children currently receive training, financial support, and mentorship. Children aged 8–14 receive Rs. 1,500 per month, while those aged 15–19 are given Rs. 2,000 per month to support their training.
The Chief Minister said that to ensure career security for top-performing athletes, the state implemented the Haryana Outstanding Player Service Rules, 2021, creating 550 new posts in the Sports Department. So far, 224 athletes have been offered government jobs, with reservations extended from Class I to Class IV positions, he shared.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that Haryana is also recognized for offering the highest cash rewards to medal-winning athletes in India. The government has disbursed Rs. 593 crore in cash prizes to date. In addition, 298 athletes receive honorariums, and over 29,000 students have received scholarships worth Rs. 53.45 crore since 2014. Through the Haryana Provision of Sports Equipment Scheme, 15,634 athletes have been provided with modern sports gear, he said.
Investing in Infrastructure and Fitness
The state has significantly strengthened its sports infrastructure, aiming to offer athletes world-class facilities. The Khel Mahakumbh is also a vehicle to promote physical fitness and health awareness among the youth. This Mahakumbh marks the beginning of a new era in Haryana’s sporting journey. It will inspire our youth, fuel their aspirations, and elevate Haryana’s status on the global sporting map, the Chief Minister said, while also honoring several outstanding athletes during the event.
Haryana emerging as a sporting powerhouse, Khel Mahakumbh giving youth new energy and recognition, Minister of State Gaurav Gautam
Minister of State for Sports, Youth Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship, Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that more than 15,000 athletes from across Haryana will participate in 26 sporting disciplines in this Khel Mahakumbh, an event that surpasses even national-level competitions like ‘Khelo India’ in terms of participation.
He lauded Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini for taking sports to villages and districts through visionary leadership, helping nurture raw talent at the grassroots. He highlighted that the state government has set up sports nurseries in villages to groom rural talent, while the central government is polishing athletes through initiatives like Khelo India by providing international-level facilities. Simultaneously, the Haryana government is preparing players for the Olympics through the ‘Mission Olympic Vijay Bhav:’ so that Haryana can win a record number of medals in 2036. Keeping the 2036 Olympics in focus, athletes in the state are being given access to sports science support and world-class coaching.
Haryana has become the leading state in sports today. Despite having only 2 percent of India’s population, Haryana’s athletes have won more than 60 percent of the medals, he said.
The Chief Minister further said that Haryana is rapidly gaining global recognition in sports. He further added that under the Outstanding Sportsperson scheme, the state government is offering government jobs to athletes who win medals at national and international levels.
Comparing previous governments, Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that while the Congress government spent only Rs. 33 crore on sports during its tenure, from 2014 to 2024, the present government has invested Rs. 600 crore in athletes and sports development. He credited Haryana’s players’ dedication and the state’s progressive sports policy for putting the state and the country on the world map.
MP Sh. Kartik Sharma, MLA Smt. Shakti Rani Sharma, Panchkula Mayor Sh. Kulbhushan Goyal, former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Gian Chand Gupta, Principal Secretary, Sports Department Sh. Navdeep Singh Virk, Director, Sports Sh. Sanjeev Verma, players Babita Phogat and Deepak Hooda, and other dignitaries also remained present on this occasion.
