Chandigarh, March 11 – Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini emphasized that sports are not just about winning medals but about winning hearts. He highlighted that sports promote peace, progress, and well-being, serving as a powerful means to unite the world.
CM Saini was speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the 73rd All India Police Volleyball Championship 2024–25 at the Madhuban Police Academy in Karnal. He honored the winning players during the award ceremony.
Saini stated that this championship reflects not only athletic skill but also the discipline, unity, and dedication of the police force. He stressed that sports are not just for entertainment—they build discipline, teamwork, patience, and mental strength. He encouraged police personnel to adopt the spirit of sportsmanship in their daily lives and integrate discipline and teamwork into their duties.
Police Personnel’s Role in National Security
The CM praised the commitment of police personnel who work tirelessly to ensure national security. A total of 1,088 players from 35 teams representing various states participated in the championship, including 791 men, 297 women, and 65 technical officers.
Congratulating the winners, Saini highlighted the critical role police play in maintaining internal security and assisting citizens during natural disasters, law and order challenges, and emergencies. He noted that this championship gave players not only a chance to demonstrate their skills but also to understand each other’s cultures and lifestyles, strengthening national unity.
Deep Connection Between Sports and the Police Force
Saini noted that there is a deep connection between sports and the police force, as a good officer is often a good athlete. He credited the strength of Indian athletes for India’s rise as a global sports power. Haryana athletes have contributed significantly to this success.
He pointed out that in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Haryana athletes won 5 out of 6 medals secured by India. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, they earned 4 out of 7 medals. Haryana also contributed 28 out of 111 medals in the 2022 Asian Games and won 20 medals in the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This success reflects the state’s visionary sports policy.
Haryana’s Support for Athletes
To ensure job security for athletes, the state government introduced the Haryana Outstanding Player Service Rules 2021. Under this policy, 550 new positions have been created in the sports department, and 224 athletes have already secured government jobs. The state has also reserved direct recruitment positions from category one to four for athletes. Haryana is the first state to offer cash awards for medal winners, with ₹591 crore distributed so far.
Athletes performing at a high level have received stipends as well. Over 29,000 students have been awarded scholarships worth ₹53.45 crore since 2014. Currently, 1,489 sports nurseries are operational in the state, training 37,225 athletes. The government has also developed a strong infrastructure for sports in the state.
Saini encouraged athletes to give their best in their respective sports, emphasizing that both winning and losing are learning experiences. He quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said that “No one loses in sports; they only learn.”
Haryana Hosts All India Police Games for the 19th Time
Director General of Police Shatrujit Kapoor noted that Haryana has hosted the All India Police Games 19 times. He announced a threefold increase in athletes’ allowances and a 2.5-fold increase in uniform allowances. The government has also introduced a mobile allowance and extended the travel allowance from 10 to 20 days. Ration allowances have been increased, and compensation for the families of martyrs has been tripled.
The state has established 22 police public schools and 16 e-libraries in police lines, along with gyms in every district.
Joint Director of IB IPS Vidhu Shekhar also addressed the athletes at the event. The closing ceremony was attended by Organizing Committee Secretary and Inspector General of Police Om Prakash, Rohtak Range IG KK Rao, Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh, and SP Ganga Ram Poonia.
