Haryana's Sports Policy Defended Amidst Criticism from Chief Minister
Support for 'Padak Lao, Pad Pao' Policy
On Wednesday, Ashok Arora, a Congress leader and MLA from Thanesar in Haryana, stood up for the previous Haryana government's initiative known as 'Padak Lao, Pad Pao' (Win a medal, get a job). He argued that this policy was instrumental in allowing athletes to concentrate on their sports without the distraction of job concerns, following remarks from Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini who dismissed it as just a slogan.
In response to the Chief Minister's comments, Arora emphasized the policy's significance in Haryana's ongoing success in nurturing top-tier athletes. He noted that Haryana's contributions were vital to India's achievements at the Commonwealth Games, stating, "India's performance at the Commonwealth Games has been remarkable. It is unfair for the Chief Minister to label the previous Congress government's initiative as merely a hollow slogan. The slogan 'Win a medal, get a job' was integral to our sports policy. At the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Haryana accounted for 38% of the total medals, with our athletes winning 19 out of 38 gold medals. This initiative aimed to alleviate athletes' job worries, allowing them to focus entirely on their sport."
Haryana's Impact at Glasgow 2026
Arora's comments came shortly after India wrapped up the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where the nation secured 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze, finishing fourth overall for the second consecutive time despite a reduced sports program. Athletes from Haryana were pivotal in this success, contributing 10 of the total medals, including seven golds. Notable gold medalists included boxers Preeti Pawar, Jaismine Lamboria, Sachin Siwach, Sakshi Choudhary, and Priya Ghanghas, along with para shot putter Sharmila Dhankar and wrestler Ankush Panghal.
The ongoing discussion regarding Haryana's sports policy coincides with the state government's plans to honor its Commonwealth Games medallists. A ceremony is scheduled for Friday, where Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will recognize the Haryana athletes who represented India in Glasgow.
Reflecting on the 2010 Delhi Games
Arora also highlighted Haryana's significant role during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where India achieved its best-ever performance, finishing second in the medal tally with 101 medals—38 gold, 27 silver, and 36 bronze. Athletes from Haryana contributed to 38% of India's total medals, including 19 golds.
Looking Forward to the 2030 Ahmedabad Games
The Glasgow Games also featured the ceremonial handover of the Commonwealth Games flag and baton to India in preparation for the 2030 edition in Ahmedabad. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha, and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi received the flag during the closing ceremony, marking the beginning of India's journey toward hosting the centenary Commonwealth Games.