Haryana CM Saini launches sports roadmap targeting Olympics 2036 talent
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini has ordered village-level talent scouting, rural stadium construction, and the launch of a sports portal — all anchored to a formal Olympics 2036 pipeline targeting children aged 10-12. For a state that already leads India in per-capita medals, this is an attempt to turn an organic advantage into a structured, data-driven machine.
Key Takeaways
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini announced a new sports initiative on 27 May 2025 during a review of the Haryana Vision 2047 Sports Department roadmap.
Children will be identified at the village level and trained in their chosen sport, with panchayats , schools, and the Sports Department coordinating the effort.
Stadiums are to be built in villages and government school premises utilised for sports training in rural areas.
A district-wise and sport-wise database and a dedicated online portal will track block-level participation and winners.
Long-term Olympics 2036 planning is to begin immediately, targeting children aged 10 to 12 years for special training centres.
Out-of-school children will also be brought into sports programmes to shield them from addiction and negative influences.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday, 27 May announced a comprehensive new sports initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing athletic talent at the grassroots level, with a long-term eye on the Olympics 2036. The announcement came during a review of the five-year roadmap and action plan of the Haryana Sports Department under Haryana Vision 2047 in Chandigarh.
Grassroots Talent Identification
At the heart of the initiative is a village-level talent identification drive. Children with an interest in sports will be spotted early and provided training in their chosen discipline. Panchayats, schools, and the Sports Department will work in close coordination to build this pipeline, with government school premises in rural areas to be utilised as training grounds.
Chief Minister Saini also directed the Sports Department to develop a dedicated portal to maintain complete records of children participating in sports at the block level, tracking winners and active participants alike. A district-wise and sport-wise database is to be prepared to map sporting interest across each region of the state.
Infrastructure and Safety Directives
Saini called for stadiums to be constructed in villages to support grassroots discovery. He also ordered a thorough inspection of all equipment installed in sports complexes across the state, stressing that no player should face an accident due to faulty or poorly maintained gear. Children are to be provided with the necessary equipment suited to their sport of interest.
Olympics 2036 Planning
The Chief Minister emphasised that long-term planning for Olympics 2036 must begin immediately. He directed officials to identify children aged 10 to 12 years, refine their sporting interests, and establish special training centres for them. Focus is to be concentrated on achieving excellence in sport disciplines where the state already shows strong potential.
Notably, Haryana has long punched above its weight in Indian sport — the state has produced a disproportionate share of Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallists, particularly in wrestling, boxing, and athletics. This new framework seeks to institutionalise what has historically been an informal talent pipeline.
Social Inclusion Angle
Saini also flagged the need to connect children who do not attend school with sports programmes, framing participation as a tool to keep young people away from addiction and negative influences. The initiative, he said, could bring 'a transformative change in the sports landscape of Haryana.'
With sectoral coordination between panchayats, schools, and the Sports Department now formally mandated, the state's next steps will be watched closely by sports administrators and Olympic planners across the country.
Point of View
Yet much of that output has relied on family tradition and informal akhadas rather than state architecture. Saini's plan to formalise the pipeline — with databases, portals, and coordinated panchayat-school-department triads — is the right instinct, but the execution risk is high: India has a long record of sports policy announcements that stall at the data-collection stage. The Olympics 2036 timeline is credible only if the talent identified today receives consistent, quality coaching through adolescence — a continuity the state has not always guaranteed. The real test will be whether the portal and database become live management tools or just compliance paperwork.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new sports initiative announced by Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini?
It is a grassroots sports development programme announced on 27 May 2025, aimed at identifying talented children at the village level, building rural stadiums, and creating a district-wise sports database. The initiative is part of the Haryana Sports Department's five-year action plan under Haryana Vision 2047.
How does Haryana plan to prepare for the Olympics 2036?
Chief Minister Saini has directed officials to immediately identify children aged 10 to 12 years with sporting potential, refine their skills, and establish special training centres for them. Planning is to begin at the earliest to build a credible pipeline for the 2036 Games.
Who will be involved in identifying sports talent at the village level?
Panchayats, schools, and the Haryana Sports Department will work in close coordination to spot and register children interested in sports. Government school premises in rural areas will also be used as training venues.
What infrastructure changes are planned under this initiative?
Stadiums are to be constructed in villages, and all existing equipment in sports complexes across the state is to be inspected for safety. A dedicated online portal will maintain records of children participating in sports at the block level.
Why is Haryana focusing on out-of-school children in this sports plan?
CM Saini said that children who do not attend school should also be connected with sports to keep them away from addiction and negative influences. The initiative frames sports participation as a social intervention alongside a talent development programme.
