Olympic medalists Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, both from Haryana, met Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini who hailed their performance in the Paris Olympics.

Bhaker and Sarabjot also won the 10m air pistol mixed team bronze medal at the Games.  Bhaker is the first Indian athlete in the post-independence era to win two medals in a single Olympic Games.

At his official residence here, Haryana CM Saini congratulated both the sportspersons for their performance at the Paris Olympics.  The players were accompanied by their parents. Manu hails from Jhajjar while Sarabjot is from Ambala.

Saini expressed immense pride in the achievements of Haryana's athletes, emphasizing that they have consistently brought glory to both the state and the country, whether on national or international stages.  He reiterated the present state government's commitment to supporting sports and athletes in Haryana, acknowledging their hard work and dedication.

"The entire nation is proud of both our players," he said, adding that soon all the medal-winner players will be honored in a state-level ceremony.  Saini said that Haryana, which has a population share of less than 2 percent, has once again brought glory to the nation in the Olympics. Out of the five medals won by the country so far, four have been won by athletes from Haryana, which is a matter of pride for the entire state, said Saini.

Manu Bhaker emphasized the unique cultural and dietary habits of the people of Haryana, which she believes are instrumental in developing the athletic prowess of the state's youth.  She said that the rich culture and good eating habits of Haryana have significantly contributed to the development of sports talent among the state's players. She also praised the state's sports policy, calling it the best in the country.  She said that the Haryana government has always provided us with the best possible support to nurture our talent. Encouraging children to play sports from a young age is deeply ingrained in Haryana's culture, she added.

Looking ahead, Bhaker expressed her determination to bring home a gold medal in the future. She also acknowledged the consistent support she has received not just from her parents and coaches, but also from the state government, which has been a cornerstone of her success.

Echoing Bhaker's sentiments, Sarabjot also lauded the cash rewards and incentives provided by the Haryana government. The sports policy of Haryana is the best in the country, and the support from the state government definitely boosts the morale of the players, Sarabjot remarked.


Haryana CM congratulates Neeraj Chopra for winning silver at Paris Olympics

The Haryana Chief Minister also congratulated Neeraj Chopra for winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and said he has lived up to the country's expectations. Saini in a post on X said, "Javelin throw superstar and Haryana's promising player - Golden Boy Neeraj Chopra. The whole country had hopes and expectations from you and you lived up to them. You have created history by winning the silver medal for the country in Paris."  "It will be very difficult to match the record you have set by winning medals in two consecutive Olympics. All the countrymen and especially the people of Haryana are proud of your great achievement."
 

Bhaker calls on Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday felicitated Olympic medal winner professional shooter Manu Bhaker, who called on him at his official residence.  Mann congratulated Bhaker and her family for her rare achievement in the Paris Olympics and said that by bagging two medals in the shooting events at Paris, Manu has made the entire country proud. He said the ace shooter has emerged as a youth icon who will always inspire the budding players for bringing laurels for the country in national and international events.   Mann also apprised the young player about the Sports policy of his government, which aims at giving a fillip to sporting activity in the state. He said that this is the need of the hour to channelise the unbounded energy of the youth on the one hand and to wean them away from menace of drugs on the other. He also lauded the Indian players especially from states of Punjab and Haryana who have won medals for the county in various events.
 
Mann also congratulated Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra for bagging the silver medal for the country in the Javelin throw.  In a message, he said that Neeraj has made the entire country proud through his rare and historic achievement. He said that Chopra who had created history in the Tokyo Olympics by winning the Gold medal has now brought laurels for the country by bagging the silver medal in the Paris Olympics. Mann said that medals bagged by Indian players during the ongoing Olympics will motivate other players for coming events.  The CM envisioned that the spectacular performance of this young athlete will inspire the coming generations to follow in his footsteps in the future.   He expressed hope that Neeraj Chopra will surely become a role model for the budding players of the country to excel in more events in the future.