SONEPAT, NOV 14 : Winning and defeat are parts of the game. One should play with the spirit of the game. It was stated by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda while inaugurating the four-day 22nd Haryana State Games in which 6000 players from 31 sports disciplines are taking part at the Moti Lal Nehru Sports School, Rai in Sonepat District, here this evening.
Sports builds friendship and through sports a strong nation is build. The Olympic Movement is uniting the youth of the world," said Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the state government was doing its best to provide all possible facilities, cash incentives and sports infrastructure in the state. As many as 160 stadia would be constructed in the villages. Each stadium will cost Rs 50 lakh.
The Chief Minister said that nine Haryana players were member of the Indian contingent which participated in the Beijing Olympics. Bhiwani-based boxer Vijender Singh won bronze medal and he was awarded Rs 50 lakh in Bhiwani on August 30.
Boxers Akhil Kumar and Jatinder Singh, both from Bhiwani and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, badminton player Sania Nehwal and wrestler Sushil Kumar were honoured and given cash awards of Rs 25 lakh each. Shooting gold medalist Abhinav Bindra of Punjab was given a cheque of Rs 25 lakh in absentia.
Five Haryana players who donned the India colours in the Beijing Olympic Games earlier were given cheque of Rs 11 lakh each. They were Divya (judo), Sanjeev Rajput (shooting), Krishna Punia (athletics), Dinesh Kumar (boxing) and Devinder (rowing) It may be recalled that Mr Hooda had felicitated Vijender Singh, the first ever boxer to win a medal in the Olympic Games, with a purse of Rs 50 lakh, in Bhiwani on August 30.
Mr Hooda disclosed that an international boxing academy would be set up in Bhiwani which is now known as ‘Mini Cuba’. Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has been allotted a land on lease for establishing an international cricket academy in Jhajjar.
There is a proposal for laying a synthetic track at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula.
A state-of-art stadium would be constructed in Sonepat on 30 acre of land. It will be constructed by HUDA.
The Chief Minister got good applause as he announced that all junior coaches working in the Haryana Sports Department have made gazetted officers.
Among those present on the occasion were Haryana Olympic Association president PV Rathee, industralist and Member Parliament Naveen Jindal and Member Parliament Jai Parkash.