Addressing a state-level felicitation ceremony at Bhim Stadium, Saini said a medal took moments to place around an athlete’s neck but a lifetime of dedication to earn. Behind every medal lay years of training, sacrifices and the courage to rise after defeat, he said.
“Haryana’s contribution to India’s performance at the Asian Games and Para Asian Games underlined its position as the country’s sporting powerhouse. India finished fourth at the Asian Games with 85 medals, of which Haryana athletes won 32, including 14 gold. At the Para Asian Games, Haryana’s athletes secured 31 of India’s 114 medals, including nine gold,” the CM said.
Saini said the state’s athletes had excelled across disciplines, with Ankush Panghal and Parveen Hooda winning gold in boxing, while Haryana’s players made significant contributions to the men’s and women’s hockey teams that won gold and qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
He said Haryana’s sporting success was no longer confined to wrestling and boxing, with athletes making their mark in hockey, kabaddi, athletics, shooting, archery and para-sports.
The chief minister said the government had disbursed Rs 931 crore in cash awards to 17,676 athletes, including the latest recipients. Eligible sportspersons were also being offered government jobs under the state’s sports policy. So far, 260 outstanding athletes had been appointed to Group A, B and C posts. The government had also introduced advance financial assistance for athletes preparing for international competitions and amended its sports gradation policy to extend benefits to participants in the Haryana State Games.
Calling upon youth to choose sports over drugs, Saini said playing fields taught discipline and offered young people a constructive path. Haryana’s athletes, he said, would aim to bring further glory to the country at the 2028, 2032 and 2036 Olympics.
