Chandigarh, Feb 9 (.) Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday asserted that Haryana has firmly established itself as a premier sports powerhouse, transitioning from a state traditionally recognized for its agriculture and military service to one that now defines India’s sporting identity.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Chief Minister’s Cup-2025 at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Gurugram, the Chief Minister emphasized that the state’s athletes are making their presence felt on every major platform, from the National Games to the Olympic arena.
During the high-profile ceremony, Chief Minister Saini distributed prize money totaling ₹24 crore to 417 athletes who brought laurels to the state during the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand.
The awardees included 48 gold medalists, who received ₹7 lakh each; 47 silver medalists, awarded ₹5 lakh each; and 58 bronze medalists, who were granted ₹3 lakh each. In an inclusive move to recognize effort, every participant from the state contingent was also presented with an encouragement award of ₹51,000. Among the dignitaries honored at the event was Padma Shri Savita Punia, the celebrated captain of the Indian women’s hockey team.
Highlighting the state’s strategic investment in athletics, the Chief Minister noted that the sports budget has seen a massive surge, more than doubling from ₹275 crore in 2014-15 to over ₹602 crore in the current fiscal year. He detailed an extensive infrastructure network that now spans the state, including 163 Rajiv Gandhi Rural Sports Complexes, 245 rural stadiums, and specialized facilities such as hockey astroturfs and synthetic tracks.
Saini reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that no talented individual is held back by a lack of resources, citing the establishment of a dedicated Sports University at Rai as a cornerstone of this vision.
The Chief Minister also officially kicked off the Chief Minister’s Cup-2025, a three-day competitive event featuring 3,600 athletes across six sporting disciplines. He described the tournament as a vital tool for talent identification at the grassroots level, offering substantial cash prizes for winners. Drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Khelo India’ and ‘Fit India’ initiatives, Saini urged the youth to view sports as a medium for nation-building, advising them to maintain discipline and humility in both victory and defeat.
Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Gaurav Gautam, hailed the mass felicitation as a historic milestone, noting that Haryana continues to punch above its weight by securing the highest number of medals relative to its population. Looking toward the future, the state leadership detailed the “Mission Olympics 2036” initiative, which aims to provide world-class coaching, international-level training facilities, and comprehensive insurance cover to ensure Haryana remains at the forefront of India’s quest for Olympic glory.
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