Punjab Newsline | Patiala
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday inaugurated more than 509 modern rural sports grounds from Dhedhna village in Patiala district, marking a major push to promote sports at the grassroots level. With the latest inauguration, the total number of sports grounds dedicated to youth across the state has reached 734.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the initiative would provide world-class sports infrastructure to village youth while reinforcing the government's campaign against drug abuse through the message of “Stay Away from Drugs, Embrace Sports.”
Mann said the Punjab Government is developing 3,100 modern rural sports grounds across the state with an allocation of ₹1,500 crore out of the overall sports budget of ₹1,744 crore for 2026. He added that work is also underway on a war footing to establish 6,000 village gyms, of which 500 have already been inaugurated.
Highlighting the second phase of the project, Mann said 509 new sports grounds have now been dedicated to the public after 255 grounds were inaugurated in the first phase. The newly launched facilities include 43 grounds in Ludhiana, 41 in Mansa, 36 in Sangrur, 34 each in Bathinda and Patiala, 33 in Sri Muktsar Sahib, and 32 in Amritsar, besides several others across the state.
Chief Minister said the grounds are equipped with modern infrastructure such as high-mast lights for night-time sports, walking tracks with footlights, protective fencing, goalposts, volleyball poles, children’s play areas and sports equipment based on local preferences. Trees are also being planted around the grounds to promote a healthy environment.
Mann said the facilities will support games such as football, volleyball, cricket and other traditional sports while also encouraging recreational activities for children and senior citizens. He described the sports grounds as symbols of harmony and unity in villages.
Reaffirming the government's commitment to sports, Mann said 2026 has been dedicated to sports and athletes in Punjab. He announced that the fourth season of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ will begin in Bathinda on September 5 and is expected to attract around 10 lakh participants.
Chief Minister also highlighted that Punjab will host the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy for the first time, with matches scheduled in Jalandhar and Mohali during October-November. Additionally, a T20 cricket league on the lines of the IPL will be held at the PCA Stadium in Mohali from August 30 to September 13.
Mann said the state's sports policy introduced in 2023 has significantly increased support for athletes. He noted that ₹135 crore in prize money has been distributed among 40,415 players since 2022, while financial assistance of up to ₹15 lakh is being provided for Olympic preparation and ₹8 lakh for Asian and Commonwealth Games preparation.
Cabinet Ministers Tarunpreet Singh Sond and Dr Balbir Singh were also present on the occasion.
