Haryana Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that Haryana state has fixed a target to win 12 medals for the country in 2016 Olympics

Haryana Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that Haryana state has fixed a target to win 12 medals for the country in 2016 Olympics. Felicitating the four Olympic medal winners of Haryana at his New Delhi residence, Mr Hooda said that the hard work of players deserved the credit for their grand performance in the Olympics.

The players, who called on Mr Hooda included Silver medal winner in wrestling Sushil Kumar, Bronze medal winner in Badminton Saina Nehwal, Bronze medal winner in Shooting Gagan Narang, Bronze medal winner in wrestling Yogeshwar Dutt, athlete Krishna Punia, shooter Annuraj Singh, Judo player Garima, Boxers Manoj Kumar, Sumit Sangwan and Jai Bhagwan, besides a number of other players, who have taken part in London Olympics.

Mr Hooda said that Haryana’s population is about 2 per cent as compared to the country’s total population, but there were 18 players from Haryana in the Indian team of 81 players, which is a big achievement. Mr Hooda said that in 2004 Olympics, Haryana players won no medal, in 2008 it won three medals and in 2012 it has won four medals and now for 2016 Olympics, the target for Haryana players has
been fixed at 12 medals.

Mr Hooda said that like the Right to Education as provided by the UPA Government, Haryana Government is contemplating to bring a Bill on Right to Play. Mr Hooda said that there are three main tenets
of Haryana’s Sports Policy – infrastructure development, talent hunt and training and an assured future.

Mr Hooda said that Haryana has a lot of sports potential. To give positive direction to the energy of youth, the Government has decided to lay stress on the development of sports. About 200 stadia have been constructed in rural areas, where coaching will be given in different sports. Academies are being established for different sports. SPAT programme has been started for catching the promising players at young age of 8 -14 and 14 -19 years. The Government will give training to 5000 such selected young players, along with scholarship of Rs. 1500 and Rs. 2000 per month.

Mr Hooda said the Haryana Government wants to provide international level coaching to its players, so that their potential is fully developed and they are able to successfully compete in international events.

Mr Hooda exhorted the players to start working hard for the next games. In reply to the question of media persons, Mr Hooda said all states should strive hard to promote the sports as the sports power is the symbol of the progress of State and its youth power. Mr Hooda said that Haryana players would have won more medals, but injustice was done to our players in Boxing and described it as ‘broad
day light robbery’.

Congress MP Mr Deepender Singh Hooda, Haryana Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Mr Sukhbir Kataria, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Prof. Virender, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr Shiv Bhattia, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr K.K. Khandelwal, Director General of Information and Public Relations Department Mr Anand Mohan Sharan, Director General of Police Mr Ranjeev Dalal and Joint Secretary of Haryana Olympic Association Mr Surender Dangi were also present on this occasion.