CHANDIGARH, March 24 — Punjab is set to host the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy for the first time in its history this October and November, marking a significant milestone in the state’s sporting resurgence. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced on Tuesday that the prestigious international tournament will feature six top teams, including India, Pakistan, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and China, with matches scheduled at Mohali and Jalandhar.
The Chief Minister maintained that hosting this event, along with the National Badminton Championship Under-13 after a 40-year hiatus, will help establish Punjab as a premier sports hub. He affirmed that the “Khed Kranti” (sports revolution) initiated by his government has transformed the sector through unprecedented financial investment. The state’s sports budget has risen from ₹350 crore in 2023–24 to a historic ₹1,791 crore for the 2026–27 fiscal year.
Under the new sports policy, the administration has prioritized direct athlete support. CM Mann declared that Punjab is the first state to provide ₹15 lakh for Olympic preparation and ₹8 lakh for Asian Games preparation. He noted that medalists in the Paralympics and Asian Games are awarded ₹1 crore each, with nearly ₹100 crore distributed in prize money over the last four years. Additionally, nine Olympic medalists have been appointed to senior PCS and DSP positions.
The infrastructure push includes the development of 3,100 playgrounds and 3,000 gyms equipped with modern machinery. The Chief Minister stated that the number of coaches has nearly quintupled from 500 to 2,458. He asserted that sports serve as the most effective tool against drug addiction, noting that participation in the “Khedan Watan Punjab Dian” games has surged from 1.5 lakh to 5 lakh players, reflecting a massive grassroots engagement.
