Chandigarh/Bathinda: The fourth season of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ is set to commence from Bathinda, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann attending the opening ceremony alongside notable cultural performers including Gurdas Maan and Kulwinder Billa. Media In-charge Baltej Pannu affirmed during a press conference that Bathinda is hosting the inaugural event for the second time, expressing confidence in achieving record athlete turnout. Pannu maintained that the tournament acts as an inclusive movement bringing together participants across generations to foster a healthy sporting culture.
The upcoming edition will feature nine distinct age categories ranging from under-14 to over-70 years, encompassing 38 individual sports and four para-sports events. Following requests from regional players, organizers have also incorporated village-level exhibition matches in tennis-ball cricket for male and female athletes. Pannu stated that the administration ensures direct electronic transfers of prize money to winners’ bank accounts while delivering advance financial support to national representatives preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.
State infrastructure initiatives are currently transforming over 3,100 village-level sports grounds, equipping local facilities with modern equipment and floodlights to encourage evening training. Officials emphasized that expanding recreational access provides youth with constructive pursuits alongside ongoing societal anti-drug campaigns. Additionally, Punjab is preparing to host the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament across Mohali and Jalandhar later this autumn, further elevating the state’s athletic profile.
