Chandigarh, December 5 — Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the state is building a sports model that will contribute to India’s global leadership in the sector. Speaking at the “Modern Sports Management: Indian Model” conference held at Haryana Sports University in Rai, he emphasised that sports today have grown beyond athletic competition into a vast domain of employment, innovation and science.
Welcoming academicians, experts and sports enthusiasts from across the country, the Chief Minister said the conference will help chart a strong roadmap for the future of Indian sports.
He said India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, is moving towards the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, and sports will play a crucial role in achieving this vision. Haryana’s athletes have consistently excelled at global platforms such as the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World University Games, strengthening India’s presence on the world stage.
Saini said Indianising sports management is not limited to adopting Indian symbols or terminology but involves blending traditional Indian sporting values with modern scientific management. This vision, he said, stands on four pillars — Modernity, Mindset, Management and Moral Values. With the future of sports becoming increasingly data-driven, tech-enabled and science-supported, he stressed the need for a management model tailored to Indian realities.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Haryana has invested over ₹989 crore in sports over the past 11 years, while the current financial year has allocated ₹589.69 crore for the sector. The state now boasts 3 state-level complexes, 21 district stadiums, 163 Rajiv Gandhi Rural Sports Complexes, 245 rural stadiums, 382 indoor gyms, 10 swimming pools, 11 synthetic athletics tracks, 14 hockey astroturfs, 2 synthetic football grounds and 9 multipurpose halls.
He said Haryana Sports University, coaching centres and modern sports infrastructure are being expanded down to the village level. Currently, 1,489 sports nurseries are functioning with 37,225 trainees. Plans are underway to create High-Performance Centres in every district and mini sports complexes at the panchayat level.
Saini added that by linking traditional Indian sports techniques with the modern sports market, India can create a distinctive “Indian Sports Brand” capable of giving a new identity to its model on the global stage. He expressed confidence that with the combination of talent, scientific training and modern management, India will significantly improve its medal tally in the 2026 and 2028 Olympics.
Calling the conference a turning point for the future of Indian sports, he said the ideas discussed will contribute to writing a new chapter in the country’s sporting history. He urged everyone to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Viksit Bharat” vision through sports.
During the event, Kreeda Bharati’s national organising secretary Prasad Mahankar shared details of the two-day conference, noting that it will encourage innovation and support athlete development. Haryana Sports University Vice Chancellor and former DGP Ashok Kumar spoke about incorporating Indian culture into sports management and highlighted the achievements of the university established in 2022.
The event saw the presence of BJP state president Mohan Lal Kaushik, Rai MLA Krishna Gehlawat, Sonipat MLA Nikhil Madan, MLA Pawan Kharkhoda, Mayor Rajiv Jain, international wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and several other distinguished guests.
