Chandigarh, August 26- Haryana Minister of State for Sports, Sh. Gaurav Gautam said Indian athletes won a total of 13 gold medals at the 23rd Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland, of which seven were won by athletes from Haryana. Through their hard work, discipline and unwavering commitment to the Tricolour, the state’s athletes have brought recognition to both India and Haryana on the global stage, he said.
He said the medals won by Haryana’s daughters have enhanced the honour of the Tricolour across the world, and these athletes are role models for the entire state and the country.
The Minister was addressing the state-level felicitation ceremony for medallists and participating athletes of the Commonwealth Games 2026 at Indradhanush Auditorium, Panchkula, on Wednesday.
*Preparations begin for ‘Mission Olympics 2036-Vijayi Bhava’*
Sh. Gaurav Gautam said the Haryana Government has already begun preparations for ‘Mission Olympics 2036: Vijayi Bhava’. With the objective of providing athletes with the best resources to compete on the global stage, the state’s sports budget has been increased to Rs. 850 crore.
He said Haryana’s champion athletes will not only strive to win a record number of medals at the upcoming Olympics but will also play an important role in realising Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
*Strengthening sports infrastructure and insurance cover for athletes*
The Minister said several major steps are being taken to nurture sporting talent across Haryana. In line with the Central Government’s historic Rs. 36,000 crore sports budget, Haryana will also strengthen its sports infrastructure over the next one year.
International-standard synthetic tracks will be developed in every district of the state. World-class foreign coaches will also be engaged to improve athletes’ techniques and provide them with modern training.
Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that keeping in view the risk of injuries during an athlete’s career, the Haryana Government has decided to provide every athlete with free insurance cover of Rs. 20 lakh, enabling them to continue training without such concerns.
He said the government will also provide loans of up to Rs. 5 crore at concessional interest rates to Arjuna Awardees and Olympic medallists to encourage them to nurture new sporting talent.
The Minister also highlighted Haryana’s grassroots sports model, under which children begin training at sports nurseries from the age of eight, become part of residential nurseries up to the age of 18, and subsequently progress to the global stage through TOPS and Khelo India, bringing laurels to the country.
Sh. Gaurav Gautam said Haryana’s strong sports policy, the valour rooted in its soil and the determination of its athletes have contributed significantly to India’s growing success at the Commonwealth, Asian and Olympic Games.
