Chandigarh/Bathinda, September 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The fourth season of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ will begin in Bathinda on Saturday, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann scheduled to attend the opening ceremony. Punjabi artists including Gurdas Maan and Kulwinder Billa are also set to perform at the event, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference, Pannu said Bathinda is hosting the opening ceremony of the sporting event for the second time and expressed confidence that Season 4 would see record participation from across the state.
He described the initiative as a platform that brings together participants from different generations, allowing grandparents, parents and grandchildren to compete alongside one another. He said the Games are aimed not only at promoting sports but also at encouraging healthier lifestyles among Punjab’s youth.
According to Pannu, the fourth season will feature participants aged 14 years to 70 years and above, divided into nine age categories. Competitions will be organised in 38 sports, along with four para-sports disciplines. Responding to players’ demand, village-level tennis-ball cricket exhibition competitions for both boys and girls will also be held.
Pannu said the Bhagwant Mann government had focused on ensuring timely disbursal of prize money to players. He said prize money won in the Games is transferred directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts, while athletes representing India in international competitions are also provided financial assistance for their preparations.
He said athletes selected for major events such as the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympics should not face financial uncertainty while preparing for competition. Pannu cited the Punjab government’s support for the Indian hockey team, saying the state had promptly transferred the promised Rs 1 crore each to Punjab players after an international victory, before the Centre’s prize money was released.
Highlighting the state’s sports infrastructure, Pannu said more than 3,100 village-level sports stadiums are being made functional across Punjab. These facilities are being equipped with infrastructure including floodlights and sports equipment, enabling children and young people to use the grounds for volleyball, football, cricket and other activities, including during the evening.
Pannu linked the promotion of sports with the state government’s ongoing ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign against drugs. He said sports could provide young people with a constructive alternative and help create a healthier environment.
He also pointed to the involvement of citizens through Village Defence Committees, saying the fight against drugs could not be limited to government agencies alone. Information received through government mechanisms, he added, is verified before action is taken.
Pannu said the government was also taking steps to recognise sportspersons and provide them with career security. He said 85 players were honoured with Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awards in May, while 11 prominent sportspersons were provided PCS and DSP jobs.
He said such measures were intended to enable athletes to focus on their sporting careers without being burdened by financial uncertainty.
Pannu further announced that Punjab is set to host the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Mohali and Jalandhar in October-November. He described the hosting of the international tournament as significant for a state with a strong hockey tradition.
He said the ‘Mashaal’ (torch) of Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan had been travelling across Punjab since August 12 and had received an enthusiastic response from residents and prominent sportspersons. The torch has been used to spread awareness about the Games and encourage greater participation.
Pannu appealed to people across Punjab to turn up in large numbers, support the participating athletes and contribute to the state’s sporting culture.
He said the collective participation of people, athletes and communities would help create a healthier and stronger Punjab and contribute towards Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision of a ‘Rangla Punjab’.
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