Chandigarh, August 20: The Punjab government will launch the fourth edition of its comprehensive state-wide sporting carnival, Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan, stretching from September 5 through November 29. The grand opening ceremony is slated for Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Bathinda, with the closing events taking place in Patiala. The extensive program aims to mobilize over 10 lakh participants across nine age brackets, ranging from under-14 to over-70.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann affirmed the administration’s policy focus on leveraging physical culture to foster youth development and combat drug dependency.
“Sports will be made the biggest weapon to channelise the energy of youth and fight against drugs,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann maintained. “Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan is the best platform to identify, promote and nurture hidden sporting talent from every village, town and city of Punjab.”
The state has allocated a dedicated sports budget of ₹1,794 crore to support grass-roots infrastructure, including the setup of 3,148 rural sports grounds and 6,000 community gyms. The current tournament features 38 sports disciplines along with four para-sports: Para Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Badminton, and Wheelchair Basketball. For the first time, Tennis Ball Cricket for both men and women has been integrated as an exhibition sport.
Competitions will span block, district, and state tiers across all 153 blocks and 23 districts, with state-level finals hosted across 16 districts. To streamline entries, officials introduced a QR code-based registration system alongside the official web portal. Cash prizes stand at ₹10,000 for state gold medalists, ₹7,000 for silver, and ₹5,000 for bronze, alongside gradation certificates for eligible winners under 40 years of age to assist with public sector employment quotas. The ceremonial Mashaal March torch relay, which began on August 12, continues to transit all districts ahead of the opening games.
