Congress MLA and Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat raised the issue of athletes’ facilities during Question Hour on Tuesday. She highlighted the situation in Ram Rai village and directly challenged Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam.
Phogat asked the minister to swim once in the village pond. She said she guarantees he would land in hospital the next day. Moreover, she declared that she would resign from the House if that did not happen. She emphasised that nearly 250 youth from the village compete at international swimming levels. Therefore, she demanded that the government construct a proper swimming pool for them.
Unsafe Pond Practice Sparks Concern
Phogat stated that village athletes currently practise in a local pond. However, she described the pond water as dirty and polluted. According to her, several young swimmers suffer from skin-related illnesses. Consequently, she argued that the government must provide safe training infrastructure.
She also reminded the House that she herself is a sportsperson. Therefore, she claimed that she understands athletes’ struggles deeply. Furthermore, she questioned how athletes can perform without basic facilities. She linked this concern to the state’s Mission Olympic 2036 vision.
Minister Responds with Alternative
In response, Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam cited the Olympic-size swimming pool at Eklavya Stadium in Jind. He stated that the facility lies about 12 kilometres from Ram Rai village. He suggested that athletes could train there instead. However, Phogat countered this claim immediately.
She alleged that the sports department has leased the facility to a private agency. Moreover, she claimed that the contractor demands money and restricts youth from practising freely. Following the Speaker’s intervention, the minister said the government would consider any formal proposal. Therefore, he left room for future deliberation.
Phogat further informed the Assembly that villagers have already donated two acres of land for the swimming pool. Despite this, she said, the government has not initiated construction. She argued that with proper opportunities, these youth could win Olympic medals. Additionally, she questioned the government’s seriousness toward sports development. She stressed that Mission Olympic 2036 requires infrastructure, not only slogans. Consequently, she urged immediate action for grassroots athletes.
Heated Exchange in the House
The debate intensified when the minister asked her to submit a formal proposal. Phogat responded that the minister neither meets her nor answers her calls. The minister replied that thousands of people meet him daily. Instantly, Phogat remarked that her name does not appear among those thousands.
Congress MLAs objected strongly to the minister’s remark. They stated that dismissing an MLA’s concern was inappropriate. Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan then intervened to calm the situation. He suggested that the minister invite the MLA for tea. The minister extended the invitation to Phogat while she sat on the adjacent bench. Therefore, the tense moment ended with a lighter exchange.
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Meanwhile, Thanesar MLA Ashok Arora raised separate sports infrastructure demands. He requested new stadiums in Jyotisar and Kirmach villages. Arora argued that such facilities would encourage youth participation in sports. Furthermore, he said they would help steer youth away from substance abuse. He maintained that proper infrastructure could help athletes win medals for the country. However, the sports minister clarified that no proposal currently exists for these projects.
He added that Kurukshetra already has strong sports infrastructure. Additionally, he noted that the government has released Rs 114 crore to strengthen sports grounds across the state. He assured the House that work would conclude within two months.
Broader Debate on Sports Infrastructure
The Assembly discussion reflected broader concerns about sports infrastructure in rural areas. Phogat’s intervention highlighted grassroots challenges despite ambitious state missions. Moreover, the exchange underscored tension between government assurances and local realities. Therefore, the debate brought attention to the gap between policy and implementation.
As Haryana prepares for long-term Olympic ambitions, infrastructure issues remain central. Consequently, lawmakers from different constituencies continue pressing for concrete action. The Ram Rai swimming pool demand now awaits formal proposals and government review. However, the issue has already sparked strong debate inside the Assembly.
