Punjab Newsline | Amritsar
The state-level competitions of the fourth season of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ began at Guru Nanak Stadium in Amritsar on Saturday, with around 3,000 players from 18 districts of Punjab participating in archery and rugby events. The initiative aims to encourage young people to take up sports and promote a sporting culture across the state. The competitions will continue until November 23.
Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said Amritsar had been selected to host the archery and rugby competitions. Launched in line with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision, the sporting event has witnessed participation from people across age groups, ranging from children to senior citizens aged up to 70 years.
ETO said the Punjab government was providing comprehensive support to sportspersons. Financial assistance has been directly transferred to the bank accounts of talented players to help them purchase sports equipment and continue their training.
He said the Chief Minister’s objective was to ensure that no promising athlete’s future was affected by financial constraints.
The Cabinet Minister also urged young people to make sports an integral part of their lives alongside education. He said sports play a significant role in keeping youth away from drug abuse and other social evils.
Highlighting the government's efforts to strengthen sports infrastructure, ETO said work was underway to develop better facilities in both rural and urban areas. The initiatives include the construction of new playgrounds, provision of gym equipment and development of modern stadiums.
Congratulating all participants, the minister expressed hope that Punjab’s sportspersons would deliver outstanding performances at national and international levels in the future, bringing pride to the state and the country.
