The North News
Chandigarh, March 27
Punjab is set to host several national and international sporting events as part of a government push to promote sports culture, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Thursday. Addressing a function honouring the 1975 World Cup-winning Indian hockey team and distributing cash prizes to winners of National Games, Khedan Watan Punjab Dian, and Para Kheda Watan Punjab Dian, Chief Minister Mann emphasized the importance of sports in channeling youth energy positively.
Mann revealed that Punjab would soon host a Four-Nation Hockey League, with other prestigious events also in the pipeline. He stressed that playgrounds and gyms would be established in every village to help steer young people away from drugs and towards sports.
The government, he said, is committed to producing top-tier athletes and increasing the representation of Punjabi players in India’s international contingents. Punjab has become the first Indian state to allocate dedicated funds for athletes preparing for global competitions.
Highlighting Punjab’s deep-rooted connection with sports, Mann noted that eight members of the 1975 World Cup-winning hockey team, including the coach and manager, hailed from the state. He lamented that previous governments neglected sports infrastructure but vowed that his administration would provide world-class facilities to athletes.
Mann also underscored the state’s broader mission to restore Punjab’s sporting legacy, ensuring athletes receive due recognition and support. He asserted that Khedan Watan Punjab Dian serves as a platform to identify talent and nurture it for national and international contests.
During the event, the Chief Minister distributed cash prizes of Rs 3.99 crore to 107 National Games participants and Rs 9.65 crore to 13,778 medalists of Khedan Watan Punjab Dian and Para Kheda Watan Punjab Dian. The 1975 Indian hockey team also presented an autographed hockey stick to Mann as a token of appreciation.
