Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana’s institutional commitment to fostering a robust sporting culture reached a significant milestone as Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini distributed 20.59 crore rupees in direct cash awards to 138 elite athletes. Speaking at a state-level felicitation ceremony organized at the PWD Rest House Auditorium in Panchkula, Saini highlighted that the objective of the provincial administration extends far beyond winning medals. The overarching goal remains the construction of an empowering sporting ecosystem where natural talent is met with direct institutional support, ensuring every young aspirant possesses the resources required to realize their athletic potential.
The high-profile ceremony, attended by Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam, honored medal winners and participants from prominent international and domestic tournaments. The financial distribution featured 13.75 crore rupees for 117 international competitors, 2.32 crore rupees allocated to three Para Asian Games athletes, and 4.52 crore rupees for 78 domestic-level sportspersons. Saini noted that over the past 12 years, the state has disbursed approximately 730 crore rupees in cumulative cash rewards to nearly 17,000 athletes, reinforcing Haryana’s status as India’s premier athletic nursery. Despite constituting just two percent of the national population, the state consistently contributes over one-third of the country’s international medal haul across the Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth, and Asian Games.
Evoking the legendary journeys of iconic athletes like Milkha Singh, Murlikant Petkar, and Mary Kom, the Chief Minister emphasized that true champions are forged through resilience in the face of deep adversity. Addressing the modern intersection of technology and athletics, Saini observed that artificial intelligence is making sports training highly scientific by analyzing biomechanics, predictive injury mapping, and competitor strategies. However, he maintained that algorithmic metrics could never replicate human passion, grit, or the profound patriotism experienced by an athlete standing on the podium with the national flag. He urged the sporting community to utilize advanced sports science while remaining anchored in core human values.
Detailing the structural reforms implemented to incentivize athletic careers, the Chief Minister highlighted that 260 elite athletes have secured secure government employment under specialized recruitment regulations. The administration has updated its sports gradation policy to extend institutional benefits to participants in the Haryana State Games, alongside elevating the monthly honorariums for prestigious awardees. Recipients of the Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dronacharya, and Dhyan Chand awards now receive a monthly stipend of 20,000 rupees, while Bhim Award winners receive 5,000 rupees monthly.
To cultivate talent at the grassroots, Haryana has operationalized 2,000 localized sports nurseries, offering monthly stipends ranging between 1,500 and 2,000 rupees to budding athletes aged 8 to 19. Furthermore, 25 residential sports academies are providing a daily dietary allowance of 500 rupees per athlete. The state’s sports budgetary allocation has witnessed a monumental rise from 163 crore rupees in 2013-14 to over 668 crore rupees. Infrastructure upgrades include the establishment of North India’s first scientific training and rehabilitation center at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula. Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam added that under the newly conceptualized Mission-2036, the department is investing 300 crore rupees to modernize stadium infrastructures, targeting a historic haul of 36 medals in upcoming global tournaments.
