Chandigarh, September 13: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday urged young athletes to set their sights on winning Olympic medals, stressing that the state government is already working towards India’s goal of becoming a sporting powerhouse at the 2036 Olympic Games.
Saini was addressing players at the inauguration of the Yonex-Sunrise Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2025 in Panchkula. Nearly 2,000 participants from across the country are competing in the event. The Chief Minister also announced a grant of ₹11 lakh from his voluntary fund to the Panchkula Sports Promotion Society.
Welcoming players from different states, Saini said, “Victory and defeat are part of sports, but it is your passion and sportsmanship that make you great. Remember, your destination is not just junior championships, but an Olympic medal for India.”
Calling Haryana the “sports hub of India,” he highlighted the state’s strong performance at international competitions. Haryana athletes won five out of India’s six medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and secured four of the seven medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The Chief Minister said the state has developed sports infrastructure in every district over the past decade, including stadiums, indoor halls, and residential academies.
He pointed out that Haryana operates 1,489 sports nurseries with more than 37,000 trainees. Young athletes receive financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month (ages 8–14) and ₹2,000 per month (ages 15–19) along with training support.
To ensure job security for top performers, the state introduced the Haryana Outstanding Player Service Rules 2021, creating 550 new posts in the sports department. So far, 224 international-level athletes have been offered government jobs, with reserved positions available from Class I to Class III services.
During the ceremony, Saini also picked up a racquet himself, encouraging players while underscoring badminton’s blend of speed, strategy, stamina, and discipline. He credited Indian stars such as Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, and Lakshya Sen for popularising the sport globally.
Former Assembly Speaker and Panchkula Sports Promotion Society Chairman Gyanchand Gupta, along with senior officials and sports administrators, were present on the occasion. Gupta noted that the society, formed 15 years ago, has been working to promote sports among youth and steer them away from drugs by hosting regular tournaments in kabaddi, badminton, cricket, and other disciplines.
