The dimensions of funding underlines this shift, with the sports activities price range rising from underneath ₹200 crore earlier to ₹1,790 crore, alongside efforts to revive Punjab’s sporting legacy by way of the return of the Kila Raipur ‘Pind Olympics’. With Punjab additionally set to host the Asian Hockey Championship for the primary time, the Bhagwant Mann authorities is signalling a transparent intent to put the state firmly on the nationwide and world sports activities map whereas driving growth in each village from the identical treasury that earlier governments had claimed was empty.
After inaugurating 250 newly constructed Pendu Khed Maidans, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the AAP Authorities is endeavor a large-scale push to remodel the state’s sports activities ecosystem, with a transparent give attention to steering youth away from medication and channelising their power into productive avenues. “Promotion of sports activities tradition could be the best software within the state authorities’s campaign towards medication. With the promotion of sports activities, the unbounded power of the youth is being utilised for excelling in sports activities. The youth who’re concerned in sports activities haven’t any time even to have a look at medication as a result of they’re utilizing all their may to excel of their respective fields,” he stated.
He added, “This can go a good distance in eliminating the curse of medicine from the state and making the youth an equal companion in socio-economic growth.”
Detailing the масштаб of the initiative, the Chief Minister stated, “With the target of making certain a wholesome physique and a sound thoughts, the Punjab Authorities is creating 3,100 Pendu Khed Maidans outfitted with trendy amenities throughout the state within the first part, at a price of ₹1,250 crore. Out of those, 250 grounds are being devoted to the general public at the moment, and all 3,100 might be devoted by July 15.” He additional outlined the phased rollout, stating, “250 grounds have been devoted at the moment, 500 might be devoted on Might 15, 250 on Might 31, 500 on June 15, 1,000 on June 30 and 600 on July 15.”
Emphasising the function of those grounds within the anti-drug marketing campaign, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “These Pendu Khed Maidans will play a revolutionary function within the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ marketing campaign. They’ll encourage youth to keep away from substance abuse and assist them obtain their desires of successful medals at nationwide and worldwide ranges. These grounds will act as a beacon of hope and alternative for budding gamers and can promote sports activities tradition in Punjab.”
Highlighting the amenities, he stated, “Every floor could have fenced boundaries with plantation alongside the perimeter and a six-foot-wide strolling monitor with floodlights for early morning and night use. There might be courts for volleyball, soccer, and hockey together with further courts primarily based on regionally common sports activities.” He added, “Amenities may even embody a 400-metre six-lane working monitor, high-capacity lighting, submersible pumps with sprinkler techniques, concrete benches, youngsters’s play areas, bathrooms for women and men, wheelchair ramps, and storage for sports activities gear.”
On coaching and help, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Particular focus is being laid on distributing sports activities kits and gear and imparting high quality coaching to the youth. Soccer and volleyball coaches might be appointed in any respect grounds, and free coaching might be supplied to youngsters in order that they will excel at nationwide and worldwide ranges.” He additional stated, “Village Sports activities and Health Committees might be shaped for upkeep of those grounds.”
Underlining the monetary dedication, he stated, “The state has witnessed a historic enhance within the sports activities price range, with ₹1,791 crore allotted for 2026–27. A brand new sports activities coverage launched in 2023 ensures monetary help for preparation, together with ₹15 lakh for Olympics and ₹8 lakh for Asian Video games.” He added, “Paris Olympics bronze medal-winning hockey gamers have been awarded ₹1 crore every, Asian Video games gold medallists have been additionally awarded ₹1 crore every, and 9 Olympic medalists have been given PCS and DSP jobs.”
Talking about grassroots participation, the Chief Minister stated, “‘Khedan Watan Punjab Dian’ has fostered a powerful sports activities tradition within the state. These video games have been organised for 3 years to organize youth for nationwide and worldwide competitions, with 5 lakh gamers taking part in 2024–25 and ₹97.3 crore spent over three years.”
On reviving conventional sports activities, he stated, “Kila Raipur Rural Video games have earned world recognition because the ‘Mini Olympics’. On July 11, 2025, the Punjab Legislative Meeting unanimously handed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Modification) Act, 2025, enabling the revival of conventional rural sports activities reminiscent of bullock cart races. After 2014, this 12 months’s races as soon as once more turned a serious attraction.”
Highlighting Punjab’s rising stature in sports activities, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “It’s a matter of immense satisfaction that for the primary time Punjab has acquired the chance to host a global occasion within the type of the Asian Champions Trophy Hockey. Regardless of sturdy Punjabi illustration, Punjab had by no means hosted a serious hockey event till now. Matches might be held at Balbir Singh Sr. Hockey Stadium and Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.”
*CM Bhagwant Singh Mann connects with village athletes, distributes kits & joins ladies gamers on the volleyball courtroom*
Including a private and inspiring contact to the occasion, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann interacted intently with younger athletes from the village, distributed sports activities kits, and felicitated them for his or her enthusiasm and dedication in the direction of sports activities. In a gesture that drew appreciation from the gathering, he additionally actively joined ladies athletes on the volleyball courtroom, taking part in alongside them and motivating them to pursue sports activities with confidence and dedication.
The Bhagwant Mann authorities’s focus is not only on constructing infrastructure but in addition on fostering confidence, inclusion, and a powerful sporting tradition on the grassroots degree.
Cupboard Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond and others have been additionally current on the event.
