Sports & Olympic Medals — Set 12

Correct Answer: A. Never — it is always in Delhi

The National Sports Awards ceremony is held in New Delhi (at Rashtrapati Bhavan) by the Government of India. It is not hosted by individual states. However, Haryana athletes are consistently among the recipients of national sports awards including the Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, and Dronacharya Award due to the state's exceptional sports performance.

Correct Answer: B. Extensive new sports facilities, academies, and hostels for athletes were built across the state

Under Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar (2014-2024), Haryana significantly expanded its sports infrastructure including new sports academies, synthetic athletics tracks, wrestling halls (akhara), and residential facilities for athletes. The Panipat War Memorial sports complex and multiple district-level sports facilities were developed. The state government also increased cash rewards for medal-winning athletes substantially.

Correct Answer: B. A wrestler

'Pehlwaan' is the Hindi/Haryanvi term for a wrestler. In Haryana culture, pehlwaans enjoy great social respect and prestige. The village pehlwaan is traditionally seen as a protector of the community. This cultural respect for wrestlers has been a key factor in the popularity of wrestling as a sport in Haryana and has helped produce generations of champion wrestlers.

Correct Answer: B. Haryana (particularly the Phogat family and others)

The correct answer is Haryana (particularly the Phogat family and others). Women's wrestling national records in India have predominantly been held by wrestlers from Haryana, particularly following the success of the Phogat sisters (Geeta, Babita, Vinesh) who broke barriers for women's wrestling. The state's investment in women's wrestling infrastructure and the inspiration from the Phogat family have made Haryana the epicenter of women's wrestling in India. This topic is frequently tested in competitive examinations such as RRB NTPC, SSC, and UPSC.

Correct Answer: B. Kabaddi

Pardeep Narwal from Sonipat, Haryana, is a Kabaddi raider who holds multiple records in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). He was the first player to score 1,000 raid points in the PKL and is considered one of the greatest raiders in the history of the sport. Haryana has a strong tradition in Kabaddi, which has been played in villages across the state for generations.

Correct Answer: B. Aman Sehrawat

Aman Sehrawat from Haryana won a bronze medal at the 2024 World Wrestling Championships. He had already won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics, establishing himself as one of India's top wrestlers. His consistent performance across major international competitions at a young age suggests he will be a dominant force in Indian wrestling for years to come.

Correct Answer: C. 125 kg (heavyweight)

Sumit Malik from Gurugram, Haryana, competes in the 125 kg (heavyweight) freestyle wrestling category. He has represented India at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, winning medals in the heavyweight category. Haryana has produced wrestlers across multiple weight classes, not just the lighter weight categories.

Correct Answer: B. Jaipur Pink Panthers

The Jaipur Pink Panthers (a Rajasthan-based team) won the inaugural Pro Kabaddi League season (Season 1) in 2014. Haryana Steelers is the Haryana-based PKL franchise that represents the state in the league. The Haryana Steelers have several Haryana-origin players and have been competitive in the PKL. Pardeep Narwal, Haryana's most famous kabaddi player, played for Patna Pirates in his record-breaking seasons.

Correct Answer: C. More than 10 gold medals

The correct answer is More than 10 gold medals. Haryana wrestlers have won more than 10 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games across various editions, including Sushil Kumar's multiple golds, Bajrang Punia's golds at CWG 2018 and 2022, Vinesh Phogat's golds, Geeta and Babita Phogat's golds, and others. This consistent Commonwealth Games dominance reflects Haryana's depth and strength in wrestling at the international level. This topic is frequently tested in competitive examinations such as RRB NTPC, SSC, and UPSC.

Correct Answer: C. 4 medals (Manu Bhaker 2, Neeraj Chopra 1, Aman Sehrawat 1)

Of India's 6 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, 4 were won by Haryana athletes: Manu Bhaker (2 Bronze medals in shooting), Neeraj Chopra (Silver in javelin throw), and Aman Sehrawat (Bronze in wrestling). The remaining 2 medals were won by Nitu Ghanghas and Lovlina Borgohain in boxing. Haryana's contribution of 4 out of 6 medals (67%) underscores the state's extraordinary sports dominance.