Haryana Is the Land of Brave Soldiers, Resilient Farmers and Champion Wrestlers: CM Nayab Singh Saini

Chandigarh, December 13 — Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday said that the MP Sports Festival is not merely a sporting event but a mass health movement that promotes active lifestyles and nurtures discipline among youth. Addressing the closing ceremony of the MP Sports Festival in Fatehabad, the Chief Minister said the initiative strengthens the spirit of the ‘Khelo India’ and ‘Fit India’ campaigns by identifying hidden talent from grassroots levels and providing young athletes opportunities to reach national and international platforms.

Saini said the festival reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of turning sports into a people’s movement and has emerged as a strong platform for rural youth to showcase their abilities. He added that Haryana’s sporting success is rooted in its culture of discipline, hard work, and resilience.

The Chief Minister was welcomed at the event by Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala, who honoured him with a turban and a memento. Athletes participating in the final rounds took part in a ceremonial march-past. Saini formally inaugurated the final matches and also watched the kabaddi final between teams from Sirsa and Fatehabad, interacting with players and encouraging them.

Officials said nearly 45,000 athletes from nine assembly segments of the Sirsa Lok Sabha constituency registered for the MP Sports Festival, with 3,604 players qualifying for the final rounds across various disciplines.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the Sirsa Lok Sabha constituency has now earned a place among the country’s top ten constituencies in sports promotion. He noted that talent often goes unrealised due to lack of opportunity, and initiatives like the MP Sports Festival help bridge that gap by motivating youth to compete at state, national, and international levels.

Highlighting India’s long-term sporting vision, Saini said the goal is to establish the country as a global sporting powerhouse by the 2036 Olympics. He expressed confidence that athletes from Haryana would play a leading role in bringing maximum medals for the nation. Emphasising values beyond winning and losing, he said sports instil discipline, perseverance, and character, shaping better citizens and champions.

Describing Haryana as the land of brave soldiers, hardworking farmers, and fearless wrestlers, the Chief Minister said the state’s farmers strengthen the nation’s food security, soldiers guard the borders in all conditions, and athletes bring glory to India on global stages.

Saini said the state government continues to organise sports competitions throughout the year through a structured sports calendar that includes events such as sports mahakumbhs, wrestling tournaments, boxing, volleyball, athletics, badminton, swimming, basketball, and handball. The aim, he said, is for every village in Haryana to produce an athlete capable of raising the national flag on the world stage.

Calling Haryana the “nursery of sports,” the Chief Minister said the state has developed robust sports infrastructure and established 1,472 sports nurseries where over 37,000 young athletes are receiving training along with financial assistance. Players aged 8 to 14 receive ₹1,500 per month, while those aged 15 to 19 receive ₹2,000.

He further said the state has introduced the Haryana Outstanding Sportsperson Service Rules, 2021, creating 550 new posts to ensure secure employment for athletes. So far, 231 sportspersons have been given government jobs. Cash rewards of up to ₹6 crore are awarded to medal winners, with ₹683.15 crore distributed among 16,418 athletes. Scholarships worth ₹70 crore have been provided to over 24,000 students since 2014, while sports equipment has been distributed to more than 15,600 players under a special state scheme.

Presiding over the ceremony, Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala said the MP Sports Festival has become a strong foundation for preparations ahead of the 2036 Olympics. He said the 105-day-long festival, which began on September 21 at Damkora Stadium, featured over 1,500 competitions and witnessed massive participation from both rural and urban youth.

Barala praised the Chief Minister for fulfilling commitments made to youth, including providing government jobs on merit. He urged young athletes to stay away from drugs and online gaming, embrace sportsmanship, and contribute to nation-building.

Several dignitaries, including cabinet ministers, former MPs, elected representatives, award-winning athletes, and senior officials, were present at the event.