Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini shared an ambitious vision for his state during the launch of the second phase of the Khel Mahakumbh sports event in Panchkula on Monday. He wants Haryana to become India’s sports capital and a global powerhouse in sports, building on a decade of efforts to get every child involved in athletics.
Speaking at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Stadium, Saini urged young athletes to bring their A-game and compete with real passion. “This isn’t just an event—it’s a launchpad for Haryana’s youth dreams and our drive for sports excellence,” he said. The minister of state for sports, Gaurav Gautam, joined him on stage.
Launched in 2017 during Haryana’s Golden Jubilee year, the Khel Mahakumbh has grown into a major fixture. Five successful editions later, the first phase this year drew 15,410 athletes across 26 sports from August 2 to 4. Now, the second phase kicks off with 9,959 competitors in 17 sports, running for three days in districts statewide.
Saini stressed that turning dreams into reality takes hard work, discipline, and confidence. That’s why his government keeps hosting these competitions to sharpen skills and build talent. He tied it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s big goal: making India a sports superpower by the 2036 Olympics and even hosting the games here.
“I’m sure Haryana’s athletes will rack up the most medals for India back then,” Saini added. “We’re already gearing up, with a dream that every village produces a star who shines on the world stage. Events like Khel Mahakumbh are key steps forward.”
To boost young talent, Haryana runs 1,489 sports nurseries where 37,225 athletes train from an early age. Kids aged 8-14 get a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500, while teens 15-19 receive Rs 2,000. Instructors earn up to Rs 25,000 honorarium. Plus, new rules under the Haryana Outstanding Players Service 2021 guarantee jobs for top performers, adding 550 posts in the sports department.
Saini spotlighted recent wins by honoring eight Haryana athletes who grabbed five gold and three silver medals at last year’s Paris Paralympics. They received Rs 42 crore in incentives. He also awarded Rs 3.56 crore to 31 standout coaches, plus certificates to national games gold medalists, top nursery heads, and more from the sports department.
Gautam praised Haryana’s sports policy as the nation’s best, crediting athletes’ grit and state support for their national and international successes. Under Saini’s leadership, the state plans to revive the Haryana Olympics in November—its first in 15 years.
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