Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday honoured the medallists and participating athletes of the Commonwealth Games 2026 at a state-level felicitation ceremony held in Panchkula. On the occasion, 24 athletes were presented with cash awards amounting to Rs. 13 crore 97 lakh 50 thousand.
Expressing pride in the achievements of the athletes, the Chief Minister said an athlete’s story does not begin with a medal. It begins in the soil where they first learnt to run, on the field where they first experienced defeat, and on those mornings when the rest of the world was asleep while they were working towards their dream. Behind every athlete stands the faith of their parents, the discipline instilled by their coach and the determination to rise after every defeat. The world may see an athlete on the podium for a few moments, but what often remains unseen are the years of struggle that took them there, he said.
The Chief Minister said Haryana’s athletes demonstrated their strength and talent before the world in Glasgow. Today, every Haryanvi takes immense pride in their achievements, and their success has become a celebration across the state. The greatest quality of Haryana’s soil, he said, is that it produces not only foodgrain in its fields, but champions as well.
Haryana’s daughters win six medals, including five gold
The Chief Minister particularly lauded the performance of Haryana’s women athletes, saying that of the 11 medals won by the state’s athletes, six were won by its daughters, including five gold medals. Haryana also dominated the boxing ring, with its boxers winning six of India’s seven gold medals in the sport. He said Preeti Pawar, Jaismine Lamboria, Sakshi Chaudhary, Priya Ghanghas, Sachin Siwach and Ankush Panghal defeated their opponents to script golden history.
The Chief Minister said the felicitation ceremony is not limited to medal winners. Every athlete who represented India at the Commonwealth Games had made an equally proud contribution.nning a medal is undoubtedly a major achievement, but stepping onto the field wearing the national colours and competing against the world’s best athletes is itself an extraordinary honour, said Nayab Singh Saini.
He said those who returned with medals are Haryana’s achievements today, while those who returned with experience are the foundation of its next achievements. Today’s experience can become tomorrow’s medal. The government, the Sports Department and the entire state of Haryana stand firmly behind its athletes, said the Chief Minister.
260 outstanding sportspersons provided government jobs so far
The Chief Minister said that under Haryana’s Outstanding Sportspersons Recruitment Rules, 260 outstanding sportspersons have so far been provided Group A, B and C government jobs.
