Chandigarh, March 24
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held an important press conference today, during which he highlighted Punjab’s rich legacy in sports. Addressing the media, he said that Punjab has made a significant contribution to sports and has a long-standing sporting history.
He announced that Punjab will host the Asian Hockey Championship, calling it a proud moment as the state has received an international tournament for the first time. He added that Punjab has produced many top athletes for the country, with more than 50 hockey players from the state winning Olympic medals.
The Chief Minister further stated that a new sports policy was implemented in Punjab in 2023. The Mann government increased the sports budget from ₹350 crore to ₹1,791 crore. The number of coaches in the state has risen from 500 to 2,458, with 324 new coaches recruited and 48 athletes appointed as coaches.
He added that ₹15 lakh has been allocated for Olympic preparation and ₹8 lakh for the Asian Games. Gold medal winners have been awarded ₹1 crore each, with nearly ₹100 crore distributed as rewards over the past four years. Athletes from the Army and Air Force have also been honoured, and 9 players have been given jobs as PCS and DSP officers.
The government has developed 3,100 sports grounds at a cost of ₹1,350 crore, with work ongoing at 2,700 sites, expected to be completed by June 2026. Additionally, gyms have been set up at 3,000 locations and 17,000 sports kits have been distributed. Turf upgrades have been carried out in Mohali, Bathinda, and Ludhiana, along with the construction of a synthetic track in Mohali.
The diet allowance for athletes has been increased from ₹240 to ₹480. A total of 1,046 players have received direct fund transfers. Under the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Dian’ initiative, participation has increased significantly, and every year, around 10,000 athletes—including para-sportspersons—are awarded prizes worth ₹10 crore.
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