Chandigarh, December 14: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday honoured the Haryana players who were part of the Indian boys’ and girls’ kabaddi teams that won gold medals at the Asian Youth Games 2025 held in Bahrain.
The players met the Chief Minister at his official residence, Sant Kabir Kutir, in Chandigarh. Senior officials, including the Chief Minister’s OSD Bharat Bhushan Bharti, were also present on the occasion.
Congratulating the team, the Chief Minister praised captain Eshant Rathi and all the players for their historic achievement. He said that meeting young athletes who have brought glory to both India and Haryana on the international stage was a moment of immense pride.
Saini stated that the victory was not just a sporting success but a reflection of Haryana’s strong rural sports culture, strict discipline, indomitable willpower and the fighting spirit of its youth. He also lauded the contribution of coaches and trainers, noting that although they often work behind the scenes, they are the real architects of players’ success through their planning, discipline and relentless efforts.
The Chief Minister said the achievement would serve as a major source of inspiration for the youth of Haryana. He added that thousands of children playing in villages would now look up to these athletes as role models and dare to dream big. The journey of these players from village playgrounds to international stadiums sends a powerful message that hard work and discipline can turn even the biggest dreams into reality.
Highlighting the state’s sports policy, Saini said Haryana developed a clear vision for sports 11 years ago, aiming to connect every child with sports, develop playgrounds in every village and provide opportunities to every young talent with a passion for sports. He said the goal was not only to make Haryana the sports capital of India but also to establish it as a global sports hub.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the Chief Minister said India is working towards becoming a global sporting power by 2036 and has expressed its resolve to host the Olympic Games. He noted that Haryana is today recognised as the “nursery of sports,” which is a matter of pride for the state.
He also mentioned that India will host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and expressed confidence that Haryana’s athletes will once again make the nation proud on that stage. The Chief Minister added that sports nurseries have been established across the state to nurture talent from an early age, and special provisions will be made in the 2026–27 budget to further encourage young athletes.
Saini also met the players’ family members and congratulated them for their support and contribution to the athletes’ success.
The delegation included Asian Kabaddi Federation Chairman Gulab Saini, coach Deepak Hooda, vice-captain Harsh Mann, Diksha Rathi, Komal Saharan, Akash, Shubham, Akhil, Keshav, Aditya Hooda and Aryan.
