Athletes getting high-quality infrastructure, says Haryana CM
Kurukshetra, Jan 22
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday said the state government is providing high-quality infrastructure to athletes to help win medals in the Olympics.
To nurture the hidden sporting talent in the state, the government has established sports nurseries along with other sports centres.
The government has also ensured world-class facilities for athletes, as a result of which Haryana players are bringing the highest number of medals for the country, he said.
The Chief Minister was interacting with athletes at a programme organised by the Kurukshetra University administration at the sports complex of the university here.
Earlier, CM Saini and Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam inaugurated a synthetic hockey ground constructed at a cost of about Rs 5.50 crore under the Khelo India Scheme of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of an all-weather swimming pool project to be constructed at a cost of Rs 8 crore under the Khelo India Scheme.
After the inauguration, CM Saini and Sports Minister Gautam played hockey on the new synthetic turf.
The Chief Minister said the synthetic hockey ground would now provide emerging hockey players with world-class facilities to hone their skills.
Encouraging the athletes, he said the government is committed to promoting sports and strengthening sports infrastructure.
Interacting with university officials, the Chief Minister said that through the Union government's Khelo India Scheme, the state's athletes would win even more medals at the Olympics and on international platforms, thereby bringing greater glory to the country.
Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Somnath Sachdeva, while welcoming the Chief Minister, shared details of the synthetic hockey astroturf built under the Khelo India Scheme.
He said that a budget of Rs 10 crore was provided by the Union Ministry of Sports.
Of this, Rs 5.50 crore has been spent on the hockey ground, and a multipurpose indoor sports hall will be constructed at a cost of Rs 4.50 crore.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good step, but I hope the focus is not just on big-ticket projects in universities. We need these facilities in villages and small towns too, where raw talent often goes unnoticed. The sports nurseries are a good idea if implemented properly.
₹5.5 crore for a hockey ground and ₹8 crore for a pool? While the intent is good, I sincerely hope there is strict oversight on these costs. Public money must be used efficiently, and the facilities must be maintained, not just inaugurated with fanfare.
As someone who follows sports, Haryana's contribution is undeniable. A synthetic turf makes a huge difference in player development and injury prevention. Kudos to the Khelo India scheme. This is nation-building.
Heartening to see the CM and Sports Minister actually playing on the new turf! Shows they are engaging with the sport, not just doing a photo-op. Hope they ensure these facilities are accessible to all students, not just the university's team.
The focus on hockey is great! It's our national sport and needs this kind of boost. An all-weather swimming pool is also crucial. But along with infrastructure, we need to support athletes with nutrition, sports science, and mental conditioning. The package must be complete.
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