If Haryana were a country, it would be fifth on the gold medal winners' list at Delhi 2010  after Australia, England, Canada and India-minus-Haryana. Fifteen of India's 38 gold at the Commonwealth Games  nearly 40 per cent of the country's best-ever haul  have been won by athletes from Haryana.

For perspective, Haryana has 2 per cent of the country's population and occupies 1.37 per cent of its land area.

What has allowed Haryana to punch so much above its weight is a comprehensive, result-oriented sports policy in which the government has invested thought, time and funds. Every student is encouraged to play at least one sport at school, and every sportsperson who wins a a national or international championship gets an automatic cash reward and a government job.

That the investment made by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, himself an avid sports lover, has paid rich dividends, is conceded even by his detractors  and proved by the fact that four years ago, at the 2006 Melbourne Games, Haryana's contribution to the national tally had been only 1 gold, 3 silver and a bronze.

Hooda says the sports policy of his government is focused on investing in high-end sporting infrastructure, both in towns and the rural areas, spotting and picking up young sporting talent right at the school level, giving them the right environment, and incentivizing them to hone their skills and develop the correct sporting aptitude.

"We have more than 350 stadiums in villages, blocks and towns across the state. A wrestling academy at Rohtak and a kabaddi academy at Jind are being set up. We have introduced Sports and Physical Aptitude Tests (SPAT) in schools to spot high-potential athletes and help them to excel through scholarships and training," Hooda said.

Under the punchline 'Play for India', each school student is encouraged to play at least one sport. With a view to eliminating transitional losses and delays, a 'direct to athlete' approach has been adopted. "For us, sports is a low-cost, efficient tool of engaging young people constructively. We see it as an exercise in nation-building", the chief minister said.

... contd.

Please read our terms of use before posting comments