Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh)— Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday announced a comprehensive grass-roots initiative aimed at identifying sports talent among children at the village level. Reviewing the Sports Department’s next five-year roadmap under the Haryana Vision-2047 blueprint, the Chief Minister directed panchayats, government schools, and sports authorities to work in unison to provide specialized training and equipment tailored to each child’s preferred discipline.
During the high-level review meeting held at the Haryana Civil Secretariat, Chief Minister Saini stressed that the Sports Department must expand its focus beyond urban centers and established stadiums to tap into rural talent. He directed that government school premises in villages be utilized for sports activities, where interested children—including those who are out of school—can be registered. Saini emphasized that engaging young minds in athletics from an early age is also a critical strategy to keep youth away from drug addiction and anti-social behaviors.
Looking toward long-term international success, the Chief Minister called for immediate structural preparations targeting the 2036 Olympic Games. He urged officials to identify children in the 10-to-12 age bracket, analyze regional preferences for specific sports, and establish dedicated specialized training centers based on those findings. Additionally, Saini ordered the development of a digital portal to maintain complete tracking records of all practicing athletes at the block level, rather than just documenting tournament winners. To inspire young trainees, local sports complexes will feature photographs of prominent national and international award-winning athletes from their respective regions.
During the session, Sports Department Director Parth Gupta presented the current infrastructural landscape, noting that no location in Haryana is currently further than 10 kilometers away from a sports stadium. Saini also reviewed the ongoing construction of a specialized stadium for differently-abled athletes in Daulatabad, Gurugram. The meeting concluded with strict directives to audit and inspect all existing sports equipment across state complexes to guarantee player safety and prevent training accidents.
