States » NorthPosted at: Oct 15 2026 12:29AM


Haryana ministers honour Asian Games gold medallist shooter Neeru Dhanda, announce Rs 45 lakh reward

Jind, Oct 14 (UNI) Asian Games gold medallist shooter Neeru Dhanda was felicitated by three senior Haryana leaders at a ceremony in her native village Sangatpura in Jind district, with each announcing a cash reward of Rs 15 lakh, taking the total to Rs 45 lakh, even as they urged her to set her sights on the Olympics.
Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, Cabinet Minister Ranbir Gangwa and Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Assembly Dr Krishan Lal Middha attended the event to honour the shooter, who won gold competing against athletes from 45 countries. All three praised her perseverance, discipline and dedication, with Dhanda stating that her success was a matter of pride for the entire nation, not just one athlete.
Dhanda said Neeru’s rise from an ordinary family to international glory through hard work and determination was an inspiration for every girl in Haryana.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sports promotion schemes, including Khelo India, for creating opportunities for athletes, and urged Neeru to begin preparing for the Olympics.
He also appealed to parents to recognise their children’s talent and encourage them in their chosen fields. Gangwa said Neeru’s achievement would motivate other girls in the state to pursue sports and realise their dreams, while Middha stressed that every medal hid years of struggle, sacrifice and family support that must be acknowledged. Neeru, in turn, urged aspiring sportspersons to never give up, saying a player’s spirit alone could take them to their destination.
During the ceremony, Dhanda highlighted the state government’s sports infrastructure push, noting that around 1,500 sports nurseries had been set up in schools to provide early training and that state- and national-level players were being given diet allowances.
He said talented athletes were being provided training, resources and opportunities to prepare for high-level competitions. The Education Minister also detailed developments in the education sector over the past 12 years, stating that government school examination results had risen to 92 per cent and nearly 38,000 rooms had been constructed in government schools.
He said approximately Rs 700 crore would be spent on further strengthening infrastructure, with new buildings planned for 2,000 schools. He added that the new National Education Policy would foster creativity, skill development and practical abilities among students to realise the vision of a self-reliant India.
Dhanda also announced that Asian Games medallists would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, following which the Haryana government would host a separate felicitation ceremony for all medal winners. He assured villagers that their development demands would be examined for feasibility and addressed in accordance with the rules.
Prominent among those present were BJP district president Tejendra Dhul, IAS officer Jaybir Arya, Dhanda khap pradhan Devvart Arya, Dr Raj Saini, Kuldeep Randhawa, Somveer Pahalwan, Surendra Panwar, Sunil Sarpanch, DSO Rohtas, DEO Munni Devi, Neeru’s parents Suresh Kumar and Sudesh, and a large number of khap representatives and villagers.
UNI KK RN
Tags: #Haryana ministers honour Asian Games gold medallist shooter Neeru Dhanda# announce Rs 45 lakh reward
More News

Haryana Health ACS flags nutrition, hygiene gaps during surprise inspection at CHC

16 Oct 2026 | 12:21 AM

Panchkula, Oct 15 (UNI) Serious gaps in nutritional support for tuberculosis patients and new mothers, along with concerns over hospital sanitation and delays in patient services, came to light during a surprise inspection of the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Raipur Rani on Thursday.

see more..

205 benefitted from free health camp at Kangra DC office

16 Oct 2026 | 12:16 AM

Dharamshala, Oct 15 (UNI) A total of 205 people benefited from a free health check-up camp organised by the AYUSH Department at the Deputy Commissioner's office complex in Dharamshala, with 60 of the 65 people screened for bone mineral density showing signs of osteopenia, a condition characterised by lower-than-normal bone density.

see more..

Haryana child rights panel bans CCTV access through personal mobiles, laptops at Child Care Institutions

16 Oct 2026 | 12:11 AM

Panchkula, Oct 15 (UNI) In a major move to safeguard children from privacy breaches and potential misuse of surveillance footage, the Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (HSCPCR) has prohibited child care institutions across the state from linking their CCTV systems to personal mobile phones or laptops, ordering strict controls over access, storage and sharing of recordings. .

see more..

Farmers’ Welfare and Prosperity Are Our Government’s Top Priority: Chhattisgarh CM

16 Oct 2026 | 12:05 AM

Raipur, Oct 15 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Thursday that the welfare and prosperity of farmers remain the highest priority of the state government.

see more..

Row erupts over IAS officer's 'bloody shit' remark against woman JKAS officer

15 Oct 2026 | 11:50 PM

Srinagar, Oct 15 (UNI) A row erupted after an IAS officer allegedly called a woman Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer "bloody shit" during a heated exchange at an online review meeting.

see more..