Cyclathon organized in Kurukshetra on National Sports Day, tributes paid to hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand
Haryana players must win maximum medals in 2036 Olympics: CM
CM Launches “Mera Kurukshetra, Mera Abhiman” website
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh–
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini called upon the youth to make sports an integral part of their lives and follow the path of discipline, hard work, and dedication like hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand. He also motivated Haryana players to win the maximum number of medals in the 2036 Olympic Games.The Chief Minister was addressing the youth during the “Cyclathon” event organized in Kurukshetra on the occasion of National Sports Day.
Before this, the Chief Minister launched the campaign “Swachh Kurukshetra - Mera Kurukshetra, Mera Abhiman” by participating in shramdaan (voluntary labour). In this programme, organized by the Haryana Sports Department, cycling and cleanliness were linked together to inspire youth to stay clean and healthy.
Prior to joining the cyclathon, the Chief Minister also launched the “Mera Kurukshetra, Mera Abhiman” website. People of Kurukshetra can upload photos related to cleanliness on this website and download their certificates.
The Chief Minister inspired youth to stay away from drugs, saying that addiction is an evil that weakens not just an individual but also their family and society. It harms physical and mental health and damages the social fabric.
Paying tribute to Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary, he said that Dhyan Chand is a source of inspiration for young players. His birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day so that players are encouraged to work hard and achieve success like him.
He said that Major Dhyan Chand was a great son of Mother India. Under his leadership, India created a golden history in hockey, which earned the sport the title of “National Game.” He led the Indian hockey team to such heights that the country won three Olympic gold medals—something that is a matter of pride for any nation.
The Chief Minister said that the theme of this National Sports Day is “One Hour on the Playground.” This does not mean we should play for only one hour today. It means we should dedicate one hour every day to sports to remain physically and mentally fit. Only then can we realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Fit India, Hit India.”
Addressing the players, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has also set a target of making India a sports superpower in the 2036 Olympics and expressed commitment to hosting those games in India. He expressed confidence that Haryana players will win the maximum medals at that time and bring glory to the country. For this, preparations have already begun. The dream is that every village and every city of Haryana should produce at least one player who can make India proud on the world stage.
He said due to the state government’s efforts, Haryana is now called the “Nursery of Sports.” The players of the state have brought glory to India at the international level—whether in the Olympics, Asian Games, or Commonwealth Games, Haryana athletes have always made the Tricolour soar high.
The Chief Minister said that in the Paris Olympics 2024, Haryana players won 5 out of the 6 medals secured by India. Earlier, in Tokyo Olympics 2020, they won 4 out of India’s 7 medals. Haryana’s performance has also been commendable in the Asian Games. In the 2022 Asian Games, 82 players from Haryana participated, winning 28 out of India’s total 111 medals. Similarly, in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, Haryana players won 20 medals. These achievements are the result of the state’s visionary sports policies.
He further said that the government has taken many steps to bring out hidden sports talent from the grassroots level. To train players from childhood, sports nurseries have been set up in the state where financial assistance and training are provided. At present, 1,489 sports nurseries are functioning, training 37,225 players.
He informed that players between 8–14 years of age enrolled in these nurseries are given ₹1,500 per month, while those between 15–19 years are given ₹2,000 per month. To ensure secure employment for outstanding players, the government framed the “Haryana Outstanding Player Service Rules 2021,” under which 550 new posts were created in the Sports Department. So far, 224 players have been given government jobs. Reservation has also been provided for players in direct recruitment from Class-I to Class-IV posts.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is the first state in the country to give the highest cash awards to medal-winning players. So far, 593 crore has been distributed as prize money. In addition, 298 players with excellent performance are being given honorarium. Scholarships are also being provided to students who participate and win medals in state, national, and international sports competitions. Since 2014, more than 29,000 students have been given scholarships worth 53.45 crore.
He added that players are also being provided with sports equipment under the “Haryana Sports Equipment Provision Scheme,” benefiting 15,634 players so far. The government is encouraging and training players from childhood and has developed strong sports infrastructure in the state to provide all modern facilities. The Chief Minister urged the youth to participate in at least one sport to stay healthy.