Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij while addressing media persons said that Haryana is the hub of sports having maximum sports activities held in the state with 1.3 percent share in country’s the the players won 50 percent of the medals in the Olympics. He said, there is a hunger for medals among the players of Haryana state, they need to be provided better sports infrastructure.

This expression was also made by the Home Minister in his address as the chief guest at the inauguration of State Championship swimming competitions at War Heroes Stadium, Ambala Cantonment on Saturday. On this occasion, the officials of the Federation and District Swimming Association felicitated the chief guest by presenting him a bunch of flowers and a memento.  

While inaugurating the swimming competitions at all weather international level swimming pool in War Heroes Stadium Ambala Cantt, Vij said that state level swimming competitions are starting here and he hopes the players achieve mastery in these competitions which is our goal and Haryana players usually win more and more medals in the International Championships..

Vij who was also sports minister in the state earlier said that in past seven years state government did much to provide better sports infrastructure to the players and spent amount worth Rs 454 crore to construct multi-purpose halls and new stadiums at all places in the state. Vij said that a sports hostel to accommodate sportsmen and coaches visiting from all over the states as well as country has been constructed opposite the stadium.

Home and Health Minister said, when he was Sports Minister Haryana he had formulated a new sports policy for the players in the state, which is being appreciated all over in the country. Vij said, other states are following this sports policy and the players are also getting the benefit of Haryana’s sports policy.

While talking to media persons Vij said, the biggest thing and what he thinks is that if we want to win the Olympics, national and  international sports competitions, then we have to participate in sports since childhood for as such our state government has started sports nurseries all over in the state. He told that about one thousand sports nurseries have already been opened in schools as such from schools itself children will participate in sports competitions according to their interests. Vij said, we cannot come up in sports unless there are sports nurseries in schools. He said, it is the endeavor of the Haryana Government that from the school level itself children can be prepared to move forward in the sports world. He added, where there are arrangements in schools, children should be made to work according to their interests to move ahead in the sports world and for this sports nurseries should be set up even at rural places. Vij said that fortunately at present the Sports Minister in the state Sandeep Singh himself is a sports player and  working for the better facilities  as well as infrastructure related in the field of sports as well as to the players.

Home Minister said that the place where competitions have been started in Ambala Cantt today is an all-weather swimming pool of international level. Competitions of ‘Khelo India’ were also held here. Vij said, people visited here during ‘Khelo India’ games appreciated the swimming pool. The President of the Federation himself appreciated and desired to get the National Games organized here. He said, work is going on to build an international level FIFA-approved football stadium of northern India here, only a month or two are left to complete the work. Vij said, although the football game is more prominent in West Bengal, we have constructed international level best football stadium in North India here along with having a gymnastics hall and badminton hall also in War Heroes Stadium where ‘Khelo India’ competitions were held. Vij said, until the infrastructure is not available for the players to show their skills, they cannot move forward in sports activities.

On this occasion, Joint Secretary, Indian Swimming Federation, Anil Khatri, while welcoming  Anil Vij said that an international standard all-weather swimming pool and gymnasic hall been built here for the players are appreciable as such  about 60 players from Jind, Rohtak, Dadri and other places are having opportunity for free swimming here.  He also informed that the state level swimming competitions being held here include 39 sub junior, 49 junior and 57 senior competitions along with this state level third men’s and women’s water polo competitions are being organized here. He said, about 750 players from 20 districts in Haryana are participating in these competitions.

On this occasion, SDM Ambala Cantonment Dr. Balpreet Singh, District Swimming Association President Rajendra Vij, General Secretary Manmohan Sharma, Gulzar Mehta, District Sports and Youth Program Officer Ram Niwas along with other officials of the Federation were present at the occasion..