Jalandhar, September 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Horticulture, Freedom Fighters and Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat on Monday inaugurated the block-level sports competitions of Jalandhar West under the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan-2026’ initiative at Government Arts and Sports College, Jalandhar.
Addressing the gathering, Bhagat said the annual sporting event has played a significant role in promoting a strong sports culture across Punjab. He said the competitions have encouraged a large number of youngsters to take up sports while providing athletes from different age groups a platform to showcase their talent.
The Cabinet Minister said a new era of sports has begun in Punjab through the special efforts of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, with the state’s players bringing laurels to Punjab and the country at national and international levels.
He said the state government is working to realise the vision of a ‘Rangla Punjab’, with ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ serving as an important initiative to connect youth with sports and channel their energy towards positive and constructive activities.
Bhagat said the government is developing modern sports grounds at the village level to strengthen sports infrastructure at the grassroots and encourage more youngsters to participate in sporting activities. He added that, for the first time, substantial financial assistance is being provided to players for sports training, while athletes winning laurels for Punjab at international competitions are being rewarded with cash prizes worth crores of rupees along with government jobs.
He urged youngsters to stay away from drugs and participate actively in sports to help build a drug-free and ‘Rangla Punjab’.
On the occasion, Bhagat congratulated Gurinderbir Singh, a 100-metre runner, and Rashdeep Kaur, a 4×100-metre relay athlete, both from the Athletics Coaching Centre Sports School, on their selection for the Asian Games.
Earlier, Bhagat inaugurated a volleyball match and interacted with players, encouraging them to uphold the true spirit of sportsmanship.
District Sports Officer Gurpreet Singh Bajwa welcomed the Minister on his arrival. He said that on the first day of the block-level competitions, events in athletics, volleyball smashing and shooting, circle-style and national-style kabaddi, kho-kho and football were organised in Nurmahal, Nakodar, Lohian, Shahkot, Jalandhar West and Mehatpur blocks.
BDPO Seva Singh, athletics coaches Bikramjit Singh, Sarabjit Singh and Sunil Kumar, volleyball coach Amritpal Singh, Twinkle Chaudhary, Junior Athletics Coach, and other dignitaries were also present.
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