"Our athletes have turned the state golden": Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam hails players' CWG 2026 performances
New Delhi, August 4
Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam hailed the performance of Haryana athletes at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games 2026, saying that their performances turned the state 'golden'.
India concluded a memorable Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow with 39 medals -- 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze -- to finish fourth in the overall standings. A lot of Haryana athletes, particularly in boxing, secured medals for India, including Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghangas, Sachin Siwach, Sharmila Dhankar, Jaismine Lamboria etc.
Speaking to ANI, Gaurav said that the performances of Haryana athletes turned the state 'golden' and right from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini to the citizens of India are proud of them. He also said that in the coming years, Haryana will be the 'mine of athletes'.
"It is a historical moment. The way Haryana's athletes have returned after hoisting India's tricolour across the world, the whole of India is proud of them. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini, every Indian is proud of these players and there is an atmosphere of joy in the country," said Gaurav.
"The way our Haryana athletes have performed, they have made Haryana 'golden'.I express my deep gratitude to them. In the coming times, Haryana itself will become the 'mine' of players; we have full confidence about it," he signed off.
India officially began its journey towards hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Amdavad as the Commonwealth Games Flag was ceremonially handed over during a spectacular Closing Ceremony that celebrated the conclusion of Glasgow 2026 and looked ahead to the historic centenary edition of the Games.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Haryana has always been a powerhouse for sports, especially wrestling and boxing. But we need to ensure the facilities and support continue to improve. Hopefully the 'mine of athletes' promise translates into more grassroots development. 🙏
Well done to all our champions! But we also need to acknowledge that other states are contributing too. Let's celebrate India's success as a whole, not just one state. Nevertheless, great achievement. 👏
So happy to see our girls like Preeti and Priya bringing medals! Women from Haryana are breaking barriers and making us all proud. The future is bright for Indian sports! 🌟💪
Happy for the medals, but let's not forget that infrastructure and coaching in rural areas still need major improvement. If we truly want to be a sports superpower, we need to invest more at the grassroots level. Otherwise, the same few states will keep producing talent.
Absolutely thrilled! The boxing team was fantastic. Haryana's sporting culture is unmatched. Hope the government allocates more funds for training and sports science. Congratulations to all the medal winners! 🥊🥇
Great job by the Indian contingent overall! While Haryana deserves credit, the entire nation
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