CM Saini Hails Jhajjar's Veerendra Kumar, Deaflympics Hero
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulated Veerendra Kumar of Jhajjar on winning 3 gold and 2 bronze medals at the Deaflympics. Kumar holds India's Khel Ratna, Arjun Award and Padma Shri — a rare triple — cementing his place as one of the country's most decorated deaf athletes.
Key Takeaways
Veerendra Kumar from Jhajjar, Haryana has won 3 gold and 2 bronze medals at the Deaflympics.
He holds India's three highest sports honours: the Khel Ratna , the Arjun Award , and the Padma Shri .
The Deaflympics is a quadrennial multi-sport event run by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini publicly saluted Kumar, calling him the 'Dronacharya' of Haryana sport.
Jhajjar district has a consistent record of producing international-level athletes for India.
A wrestler from Jhajjar, Haryana, who competes in silence but wins in thunder — Veerendra Kumar has carved a place among India's most decorated deaf athletes, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini made sure the nation paused to take note.
In a post on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, CM Saini saluted Kumar with the title 'Dronacharya' — the legendary guru of the Mahabharata, a metaphor Haryana reserves for those who embody mastery and sacrifice in sport. 'Veerendra Kumar ji has illuminated the name of the country and the state through his talent, dedication and tireless hard work,' Saini wrote, adding that Kumar's haul of 3 gold and 2 bronze medals at the Deaflympics has etched an indelible mark on the world of sport.
Khel Ratna, Arjun Award, Padma Shri — a rare triple
What sets Kumar apart is not just the medals but the institutional recognition that followed. He is among a select group of Indian athletes to hold all three of the country's most significant sporting honours: the Khel Ratna (India's highest sports award), the Arjun Award, and the Padma Shri. Earning all three is rare in any discipline; doing so as a deaf athlete competing at the Deaflympics — the quadrennial multi-sport event organised by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf — makes it exceptional.
Jhajjar's quiet factory of champions
Jhajjar district has built a quiet reputation as one of Haryana's most consistent producers of international sportspersons. The district's athletes have represented India across disciplines at global competitions, and Kumar's story fits a well-established pattern: a young person from a small Haryana town, grinding through years of structured training, emerging on a world stage. CM Saini's tribute is also, in part, a signal to that pipeline — a reminder that the state is watching and will celebrate what comes out of it.
Haryana's political leaders have long used public recognition of individual athletes to reinforce the state's sporting identity, a strategy that runs parallel to investments in sports infrastructure and grassroots academies. Kumar's case, however, carries additional weight: it puts deaf sport at the centre of a mainstream political tribute, a visibility that the community rarely receives.
A boy from Jhajjar. Five Deaflympics medals. Three national honours. The scoreboard doesn't get much cleaner than that — and Haryana's chief minister wants every corner of the state to read it.
Point of View
And invoking the 'Dronacharya' metaphor for a para-athlete signals an intent to expand that identity beyond able-bodied sport. The triple-award recognition Kumar holds (Khel Ratna, Arjun, Padma Shri) gives the state an unusually strong story to amplify. Watch whether this tribute is followed by concrete policy moves on deaf sports infrastructure — that would mark a shift from symbolic recognition to structural support.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Veerendra Kumar the Deaflympics athlete from Haryana?
Veerendra Kumar is a deaf athlete from Jhajjar district, Haryana, who has won 3 gold and 2 bronze medals at the Deaflympics and holds India's Khel Ratna, Arjun Award and Padma Shri.
What is the Deaflympics?
The Deaflympics is a quadrennial multi-sport international event organised by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, open to deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes from around the world.
Why did CM Nayab Singh Saini call Veerendra Kumar 'Dronacharya'?
CM Saini used the title 'Dronacharya' — a revered teacher-figure from the Mahabharata — as a metaphor for Kumar's mastery and dedication, a term of the highest honour in Haryana's sporting culture.
What awards has Veerendra Kumar won from the Indian government?
Veerendra Kumar has received the Khel Ratna (India's highest sports award), the Arjun Award, and the Padma Shri — a rare combination held by very few Indian athletes.
Which district of Haryana does Veerendra Kumar belong to?
Veerendra Kumar belongs to Jhajjar district in Haryana, a region known for consistently producing athletes who represent India at international competitions.
