Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday honoured 132 athletes with cash awards totalling Rs. 189.38 crore at a state-level ceremony in Bhiwani to recognise their achievements at the Asian Games and Para Asian Games.
Addressing the joint felicitation ceremony at Bhim Stadium, the Chief Minister said a medal takes only moments to place around an athlete’s neck, but earning it demands a lifetime of dedication. Behind every medal are years of training, countless sacrifices and the courage to rise again after defeat.
The applause in Bhiwani, he said, celebrated not just the medals but also the years of perseverance and unwavering resolve that had raised India’s Tricolour high at sporting arenas across Asia.
India also recorded its best-ever performance at the Para Asian Games with 114 medals. Haryana’s para-athletes won 31 medals, including nine gold medals, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the country’s gold tally.
Urging the Chief Minister to develop Bhim Stadium to national and international standards, he said Bhiwani had given India athletes such as Nitu, Sakshi, Akhil and Vijender, who had earned the country recognition across the world.
