Patiala, June 27: Punjab is set to upgrade its rural sports landscape significantly with the construction of 3,100 grounds under a ₹1,250 crore development plan, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced on Friday. While launching the construction of an international-standard sports complex in Samana, Patiala, the Chief Minister asserted that cultivating a competitive sporting spirit remains the strongest weapon to neutralize the drug problem in the state. He maintained that engaging youth in constructive physical activities ensures their energy is channelled toward community and personal development.
The Chief Minister stated that the new Samana stadium will bring premier facilities directly to rural athletes, incorporating an advanced 400-meter synthetic track and elite training infrastructure for field sports. He declared that providing top-tier training venues at the grassroots level will enable regional players to win medals at national and global forums.
“This sports stadium will be constructed over nine acres of Panchayati land at an estimated cost of ₹10.35 crore. The stadium will feature an international-standard 400-metre synthetic athletics track with eight lanes. The synthetic track will be suitable for hosting athletic events such as 100-metre, 200-metre and 400-metre races, along with other track competitions,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann detailed.
The Chief Minister stated that the massive rural sports program includes providing high-capacity lighting, specialized equipment kits, and professional coaching staff across villages. He affirmed that initiative schemes like ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Dian’ have successfully drawn hundreds of thousands of active players over the last three years, laying down a strong athletic base.
The administration has also taken legislative steps to revive cultural heritage sports, referencing the successful reintroduction of traditional bullock cart races following legislative approvals last year. The Chief Minister concluded by announcing that the state will proudly host the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament later this year, a historic first for Punjab.
“It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that, for the first time, Punjab has got the opportunity to hold an international event in the form of the Asian Cup Hockey and it is a big achievement in the field of sports. Despite strong Punjabi representation, Punjab had never hosted a major hockey tournament until now,” the Chief Minister stated.
