Chandigarh, September 24 – Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state government’s goal is to make Haryana not just India’s but the world’s sports capital. He was speaking at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Stadium in Panchkula while inaugurating the second phase of the State-Level Khel Mahakumbh.
Saini said that over the years, the state has developed a clear vision for sports—every child should have access to play, every village must have a playground, and every youth with passion should get an opportunity.
The Chief Minister stressed that the Khel Mahakumbh is not just an event but a platform to give flight to the dreams of young athletes. He recalled that the initiative began in 2017, during Haryana’s Golden Jubilee, and since then, five editions have been successfully held. The first phase this year saw 15,410 athletes competing in 26 sports, while 9,959 athletes are participating in 17 events in the ongoing second phase.
He highlighted the state’s sporting vision aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aim to make India a sporting superpower by the 2036 Olympics, expressing confidence that Haryana’s athletes would bring home the most medals. “Our dream is that every village of Haryana produces at least one athlete who raises India’s flag at the global stage,” he said.
The Chief Minister also underlined the government’s initiatives for nurturing talent through 1,489 sports nurseries currently training 37,225 athletes. Young athletes between 8–14 years are given ₹1,500 monthly, while those aged 15–19 receive ₹2,000. Nursery trainers receive up to ₹25,000 as honorarium. To secure players’ careers, the government has also created 550 new posts under the Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons Service Rules, 2021.
On the occasion, Saini honored Haryana’s eight medal winners from the Paris Paralympics with a total incentive of ₹42 crore. These included five gold and three silver medalists. He also awarded ₹3.56 crore to 31 coaches for their contribution and felicitated outstanding sportspersons, coaches, and nursery in-charges.
Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam, also present, said 9,959 players will showcase their talent over three days in 17 disciplines across districts. He praised Haryana’s sports policy as one of the best in the country, crediting it for the state’s stellar national and international performances. He further announced that the Haryana Olympics would return in November after a gap of 15 years.
The event was attended by legislators Jagmohan Anand and Randhir Panihar, former Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, senior officials, and a large number of athletes.
