The North News
Ludhiana, January 6
Punjab will soon have 3,100 new playgrounds across its villages and cities as part of a major push by the state government to strengthen sports culture and expand grassroots infrastructure, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said on Tuesday after formally inaugurating the the 69th National School Games at Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana. The week-long tournament, running from January 6 to 11, has brought together around 1,000 young athletes and more than 350 coaches from across India. Teams from all states and Union Territories are taking part, alongside contingents from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and Vidya Bharati schools.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bains said the Games would feature competitions in under-14 judo and taekwondo for boys and girls, and under-19 Gatka events. Matches are being staged at several venues across the city, including BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Government Senior Secondary School in Shastri Nagar, and facilities at Punjab Agricultural University. Calling the event a moment of pride for the state, the minister said Ludhiana was hosting participants from regions ranging from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to Andhra Pradesh and the North East. He added that special arrangements had been made to ensure the safety and comfort of athletes amid cold weather, including accommodation, food, transport and enhanced security with CCTV coverage at venues.
Bains also highlighted the Punjab government’s push to strengthen sports infrastructure under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said work was underway to build 3,100 playgrounds across villages and cities in the first phase, with the aim of ensuring that every village in Punjab has access to a sports ground.
The minister pointed to increased recruitment of coaches in sports nurseries and improvements in players’ diets as part of broader efforts to boost performance. He also underlined a new sports policy under which Punjab provides advance financial assistance to athletes selected for major international events such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the Olympics.
According to Bains, the policy had already led to improved medal performances and reflected Punjab’s ambition to reclaim its reputation as a leading sporting state. He noted the strong presence of Punjabi players in national teams, particularly in hockey and cricket, as a sign of that resurgence.
Senior state officials, local representatives and education and sports administrators attended the inauguration ceremony.
