Chandigarh, Sept 19 – Congratulating the Haryana’s paralympians for their exemplary performance in Tokyo Paralympics 2020, the Vice President of India, Sh. M. Venkaiah Naidu complimented the Haryana Government, who is taking several policy initiatives under the able leadership of Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal to facilitate the sportspersons.
Sh. Naidu was addressing the gathering during the felicitation ceremony of Haryana’s medalists and participants in Tokyo Paralympics 2020 held at Northcap University in Gurugram today. Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal presided over the function while Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Mr. Sandeep Singh also graced the occasion.
Praising the Haryana Government for supporting and promoting the sportspersons in a big way in the state, the Vice President said that this example would also inspire other states for the same. Urging the youth to focus on their physical fitness, he underlined the importance of eating habits and living in harmony with nature.
He said that Haryana has performed phenomenally and the contribution of such a small state in the medal tally is unbelievable. The players of Haryana have shown that they were born on the land of brave heroes. He also called upon the youth to pay attention to physical fitness and adopt one sport in their life. If you take interest in one sport, you will excel in life, he added.
During the ceremony, the Vice President and Chief Minister distributed prize money of more than Rs.27 crores among 19 medalists and participants of Haryana in Tokyo Paralympics.
Appreciating their efforts behind an exemplary performance, the Vice President said that these achievements have given a new ray of hope to the people from all walks of life and has also inspired them to move forward in life post the despair created by the pandemic across the world.
“Having got an opportunity to felicitate these talented sportspersons of Tokyo Paralympics 2020, I feel honoured,” said the Vice President of India.
Recognising that these achievements were not easy, the Vice President mentioned that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics were organized in very unusual circumstances. There were miscellaneous restrictions on the players. The stadiums were often empty due to the lack of spectators. The players' training was also interrupted due to the stadium being closed for a long time. And, these achievements of the players in such unusual circumstances are even more spectacular. Athletes' achievements in the Paralympics will create a new sporting culture in the country.
He also said that the performance of Team India in this year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics has been excellent. The country has won the maximum number of 19 medals in various sports, which includes 5 gold medals, 8 silver medals, and 6 bronze medals. A total of 6 medals have been won by 5 players from Haryana, which includes 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals. He wished the players all the best for their future successes.
“Achieving such a historical success in sports is not very easy. It is the continuous practice, dedication, and hard work a player puts during the process which makes them achieve the planned goal," the Vice President of India added.
Youth must adopt one sports in life
He said that India has a young population and the country has the potential to show the way to the world. Therefore, taking inspiration from these players, the youth must adopt one sport in their lives. He said that the National Education Policy-2020 has given wide opportunities to promote sports. The Haryana government is already achieving new heights in the field of sports and will continue to do so.
Rs 50 lakh to the players who finish fourth in Paralympics
Congratulating the players for their sterling performance, the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal said that for the first time, the state government has decided to give Rs 50 lakh each to the players who finished fourth in Olympics and Paralympics. In this series, the Chief Minister announced Rs 50 lakh each to Tarun Dhillon and Navdeep Singh. He also announced Rs 50 lakh to Vinod Kumar, who missed the bronze medal due to technical reasons.
Highlighting the key role of coaches in the success of these talented Paralympians, he said that their support and encouragement have contributed immensely to the achievements of the players. He said that the coaches, who groom the medalists, also deserve a reward. Therefore, the state government has decided that in the Olympics and Paralympics, Rs 20 lakh will be given to the coach of the gold medalist, Rs 15 lakh to the coach of the silver medalist and Rs 12.50 lakh to the coach of the bronze medalist.
Paralympians are a source of inspiration
The Chief Minister said that these Paralympians are a source of inspiration for the society. Everyone should take inspiration from these players that while fighting the challenges in life, one can achieve a milestone on the strength of their talent.
Paralympic Sports Center facility to come up in Faridabad
Mr Manohar Lal said that Paralympic bhawan is being constructed on 6 acres in Faridabad. The government will develop it as a Paralympic Sports Center with a hostel facility.
He said that Haryana is considered as the hub of sports and the state government is working continuously to promote sports in a big way. But still much remains to be done in the field of sports. India has been ranked 48th and 25th in the medal tally in Olympics and Paralympics respectively. It is an effort to put India first in the medal tally and for this Haryana will have to increase its participation.
With the commitment of developing sports infrastructure, today a playground is available within every 10 km radius. He said that keeping in view the pace of development of sports in the state, Haryana has got the privilege of organizing Khelo India Youth Games 2021 edition, these games will be organized in Panchkula.
Haryana giving maximum prize money
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is the first state in the country to give maximum cash prizes to sportspersons who have won medals in Olympics and Paralympics. In the Olympic and Paralympic Games, a cash prize of Rs 6 crore has been given to the gold medalist, Rs 4 crore to the silver medalist and Rs 2.5 crore for the bronze medalist. Apart from this, Rs 15 lakhs is also provided to all the participating players of these games.
He said that there was a time in the state when players used to get their prize money a year or two years later, but we have ensured that the prize money is distributed immediately. Not only Paralympics, a provision has been made to give cash prizes to Para sportspersons participating in Asian, Commonwealth and National sports events at the same level as regular sportspersons. Haryana is the first state in the country, which has made a provision of giving an advance amount of Rs 5 lakh to the player for preparation as soon as he qualifies for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, he added.
Target of 50 medals in next games
Haryana Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr Sandeep Singh said that these players have brought laurels to the state and the nation with their exemplary performance in the Tokyo Paralympics. These players are the real heroes of the society, who have reached this stage in spite of so many ups and downs. Not only the state but the whole country feels proud for their unmatched performance.
Giving a target, he said that 100 players from India should participate in the next Paralympics and bring 50 medals. He requested the Paralympic players to inspire and guide other differently-abled people of the society to move forward in sports.
Fortunate enough that we born in Haryana
Speaking at the felicitation ceremony, the Paralympic players thanked the Vice President and the Chief Minister for felicitating them and said that they all feel proud and extremely fortunate to belong to Haryana. The players said that the sports policy of the state is the best. We will continue to do our best and will definitely win more medals next time.
Speaking on this occasion, Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra said that these sportspersons have achieved such a big milestone despite facing hard challenges in their lives. The dedication and hard work that they showed in the games, the entire nation is now extending respect and honour. The youth should take inspiration from them and take a pledge to move forward in sports, he added.
These players were honoured
During the ceremony, gold medalist Manish Narwal in shooting Sumit Antil in Javelin were given prize money of Rs.6 crore each.
Similarly, Yogesh Kathuniya, silver medalist in discus throw, got Rs 4 crore, Singhraj Adhana silver and bronze medalist in men's shooting) category got Rs 4 crore and Rs. 2.5 crore and Archery bronze medalist Harvinder Singh was given an amount of Rs. 2.5 crore.
In addition, Tarun Dhillon, Navdeep Singh ( who finished 4th) and Vinod Kumar, (who missed the bronze medal due to technical reasons), were given Rs 50 lakh each. Similarly, Rs 15 lakh each was distributed as incentive to the participating players, Aruna Tanwar, Deepak Saini, Rahul Jakhar, Jaideep Deswal, Ranjit Bhati, Rampal, Dharambir Nain, Amit Kumar Saroha, Tekchand, Arvind Malik and Ekta Bhayan.
Olympic gold medalist in javelin throw Neeraj Chopra, wrestling silver medalist Ravi Kumar Dahiya and bronze medalist men's hockey team player Sumit also attended the ceremony.
On this occasion, Principal Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Sh AK Singh, Sports and Youth Affairs Department Sh Pankaj Nain, Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram Sh Yash Garg and other dignitaries were also present.