Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has announced a grant of Rs 21 lakh for the Kho-Kho Association. The announcement was made on Saturday at the inauguration of the 35th Sub-Junior National Kho-Kho Championship (Boys and Girls) at Keshav Park in Kurukshetra.

Addressing the gathering, CM Saini said that Kho-Kho is more than just a sport; it embodies India's cultural spirit and reflects the essence of the nation. He emphasized that this traditional game demonstrates that talent can thrive even with limited resources, as it requires minimal equipment and infrastructure. Kho-Kho cultivates agility, strategy, teamwork, discipline, and quick decision-making skills.

CM Saini highlighted Haryana's commitment to sports, stating that the state has adopted a forward-looking sports vision aimed at connecting every child with sports, developing playgrounds in every village, and providing equal opportunities to talented youth. He mentioned that sports competitions are organized throughout the year across the state to achieve this objective.

The Chief Minister proudly stated that Haryana is the land where Lord Krishna imparted the message of duty, discipline, and righteous action to Arjuna. He added that traditional Indian games like Kho-Kho are spreading the values of discipline, dedication, teamwork, and national unity across the country from this sacred land. He views the championship as a celebration of India's sporting culture, youth strength, and a promising future, not just the start of a sporting event.

CM Saini assured Jawahar Singh Yadav, President of the Haryana Sports Kho Kho Association (HSKKA), of the state government's full support in establishing a state-level residential Kho Kho academy and an under-16 Kho Kho league in Haryana.

Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho Kho Federation of India, expressed confidence in India's Kho Kho participation in upcoming world championships like the Olympics 2032, the Commonwealth Games 2030, and the Asian Games 2030. Mittal is confident that Kho Kho will be included in the Commonwealth Games (2030) in Ahmedabad and the Asian Games 2030, potentially as a demonstration sport in the Olympics (2032).

Cabinet Minister Krishan Lal Panwar and Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala were also present at the event. They interacted with the players and congratulated the organizers for conducting the national-level championship commendably.

Other notable attendees included BJP State President Mohan Lal Badoli, KKFI General Secretary Upkar Singh Virk, MS Tyagi (Chairman, Administration & Organisation, KKFI), Mahender Kamboj (General Secretary, Haryana Sports Kho Kho Association), Rajkumar Saini (President, Kurukshetra Kho Kho Association), and other officials.