National Sports Day: Baijalpur gets Rs 7.5 cr AstroTurf hockey stadium

On the occasion of National Sports Day, Baijalpur village in Fatehabad created a new milestone in the sports world with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art AstroTurf hockey stadium, built at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

The facility was inaugurated on Friday by Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala, while village sarpanch Hemant Singh Baijalpuria presided over the function. The event was conducted at Government Senior Secondary School, Baijalpur, and marked by tributes to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. MP Barala paid floral respects, calling Dhyan Chand an eternal source of inspiration for the country.

During the ceremony, Barala also formally launched the registration process for the “Sansad Khel Mahotsav”, a sports festival aimed at giving rural talent a platform to showcase their abilities. He announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the development of Baijalpur village and emphasised that every registered player would get an opportunity to participate.

Barala urged local officials, public representatives and sports academies to encourage maximum participation from their respective areas. Highlighting Baijalpur’s progress, he mentioned that over 50 youths from the village had secured government jobs, demonstrating the village’s excellence in both education and sports. The Sansad Khel Mahotsav will begin on September 21 and conclude on December 25, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Events will include hockey, football, kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, javelin throw, and 100m/400m races, along with traditional games like tug of war and a matka race.

Calling the new stadium a game-changer, Barala said it would not only boost sports in Fatehabad but also help Haryana become a sports hub. He added that the youth from rural areas would now be able to dream of reaching national and international levels.

The community welcomed the MP with garlands and traditional turbans and a hockey match was held after the inauguration. Barala met players and honoured them with trophies, while a sarpanch tug-of-war competition added a light-hearted touch to the event.

Barala clarified that though the stadium was not yet been taken over by the Sports Department, until that happened, its maintenance would remain NPCIL’s responsibility. He confirmed that the official communication on the matter was underway. Officials present included ADC Anurag Dhalia, NPCIL CSR Chairman Sanjeev Singla, HARCOFED Chairman Ved Phulan, and several senior district officers, public figures, and sports enthusiasts.