*Haryana Sports Minister Gives Rousing Welcome to State’s Athletes Returning After Stellar Performance at Asian Games*

 *Haryana’s 32 Medals Shine Among India’s 85-Medal Haul, Including 14 Gold*

*Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam Says No Stone Will Be Left Unturned to Honour Athletes and Promote Sports*

Chandigarh, October 5 – Haryana’s athletes, who returned after putting up an impressive performance at the Asian Championship held in Japan, were accorded a warm welcome by Haryana Minister of State for Sports Sh. Gaurav Gautam at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Monday. He welcomed the athletes with flower garlands and congratulated them on their achievements. He said that Indian athletes had delivered a stellar performance at the Asian Games, winning a total of 85 medals and bringing glory to the country. Of these, athletes from Haryana won 32 medals, including 14 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze medals.

Sports Minister Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that the state’s athletes had demonstrated Haryana’s sporting prowess by winning these medals. He personally met the athletes, appreciated their achievements and assured them of all possible support in the future. He said the entire state was proud of their accomplishments. He added that the continuous progress of sports and athletes in Haryana was a result of the sports policies and schemes being implemented under the leadership of Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini. He expressed confidence that the athletes would continue to perform exceptionally well and bring further glory to the state in the future.

*Haryana’s 32 Medals a Testament to the State’s Sporting Potential*

Congratulating the athletes, Sports Minister Sh. Gaurav Gautam said the entire state of Haryana was proud of the athletes who had enhanced the prestige of the national flag on the international stage. He said the 14 gold medals demonstrated that athletes from Haryana do not enter competitions merely to participate, but with the determination to win. He said the athletes had achieved this milestone through hard work, discipline and dedication. He also acknowledged the significant role played by their parents, coaches and sporting institutions in their success. The Minister congratulated all the parents and coaches and said that the government stood firmly with the athletes. Sports Minister Sh. Gaurav Gautam also interacted with the athletes and enquired about their journey, performance in the competition and preparations for upcoming events. He said honouring medal-winning athletes was not only the responsibility of the government but also a collective responsibility of society.

*Government Committed to Supporting Athletes Under the Leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini*

Sports Minister Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the Haryana Government was committed to promoting athletes and providing them with proper nutrition, quality training, good coaches and modern sports infrastructure. He said the government was making every effort to ensure that athletes in the state faced no shortage of facilities in developing their talent. He said Haryana had no dearth of talent and that the need was to provide this talent with the right platform and direction. He added that the land of Haryana had produced numerous international athletes and that many more talents from the state would bring glory to the country at national and international levels in the years to come. The government wants Haryana’s athletes to win an increasing number of medals not only at the national level but also at the Asian, World and Olympic levels.

*Rural Talent to Get Better Platforms*

Sports Minister Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that villages have played an important role in Haryana’s sporting culture. Many international athletes from the state have emerged from rural backgrounds and gone on to compete at the world’s biggest sporting platforms. He said the government was paying special attention to ensuring that young people living in villages and small towns also receive world-class facilities. If hidden talent in villages is provided with appropriate facilities and coaches at the right time, Haryana could produce even more international athletes in the coming years.

*Athletes’ Success Will Inspire the Youth*

Sports Minister Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, India was continuously showcasing its talent and capabilities in sports on the international stage, and Haryana was playing an important role in this sporting journey. He said when an athlete wins a medal at the international level, the achievement is no longer merely personal but becomes an accomplishment for the entire state and country. Such achievements would inspire other young people to take up sports and encourage them to move away from mobile phones and other activities towards the sporting field. He made it clear that no effort would be spared in honouring and encouraging medal-winning athletes. He called upon the athletes to continue working hard and win more medals for the country in upcoming international competitions.