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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann inaugurated 1,000 more village sports grounds, taking the total to 1,764 under the state’s 3,100-ground rural sports project.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday inaugurated 1,000 additional village sports grounds across the state, taking the total number of completed and inaugurated facilities to 1,764 under the government’s target of developing 3,100 ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’.
The inauguration ceremony was held at Shahpur village in the Amloh Assembly constituency of Fatehgarh Sahib district. The initiative is part of the state government’s efforts to strengthen rural sports infrastructure and encourage young people to take up sports instead of falling prey to drug abuse.
Addressing the gathering, Mann said Punjab was working towards becoming a centre for international sporting talent. He added that providing sports facilities in villages would give young athletes an opportunity to develop their skills and represent the state and country at higher levels.
The Chief Minister said the government wanted to create an environment in which young people could focus on fitness, discipline and sporting activities. He also welcomed people and political representatives who had arrived from different parts of Punjab for the inauguration.
3,100 Village Sports Grounds Planned Across Punjab
Mann said the state government was developing 3,100 model village sports grounds under its ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign. The project aims to make sports facilities available to young people closer to their homes.
The first phase saw 255 grounds inaugurated on May 4, followed by another 509 on August 24. With Wednesday’s inauguration of 1,000 additional grounds, the total has reached 1,764. Of these, 93 are located in Fatehgarh Sahib district.
According to the Chief Minister, the facilities are being developed with infrastructure for several sports, including football, hockey, volleyball and cricket.
The grounds will have six-foot-high chain-link fencing, green spaces, six-foot-wide walking tracks with footlights, separate toilets for men and women, and storage rooms for sports equipment. Submersible pumps and hydrants have also been installed to maintain the grass and plants.
Additional facilities include children’s play areas with swings, slides and ladder bars, along with high-mast lights for activities after sunset. Selected grounds will also have six-lane, 400-metre running tracks for athletics.
Sports Kits And Free Coaching For Village Youth
Mann said the government was also providing sports equipment to villages so that children could participate without having to spend money on basic kits.
Each village will receive football and hockey goalposts, volleyball poles, two nets, three volleyballs, three footballs and cricket equipment. The government will also supply 36 pairs of football studs. Villages with greater interest in cricket will receive complete cricket kits.
The Chief Minister further said that football and volleyball coaches would be appointed at the sports grounds to provide free training to young players.
He added that Gram Panchayats would be responsible for maintaining the facilities through committees comprising the Sarpanch, the Youth Club president, the concerned Junior Engineer and the Panchayat Secretary. A woman member or a sportsperson nominated by the Gram Panchayat would also be part of the committee.
Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond and other dignitaries attended the event.
Punjab Government’s Sports Budget And Athlete Support
Apart from developing village playgrounds, the state government has announced several measures to support athletes and expand sports facilities.
According to the government, ₹1,500 crore has been committed towards the development of 3,100 ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’. It has also allocated a sports budget of ₹1,744 crore and is developing 600 rural gyms, of which 500 have reportedly been completed and inaugurated.
Under the Sports Policy introduced in 2023, the government says it has distributed ₹135 crore in prize money to 40,415 sportspersons since 2022.
Financial assistance is also being provided to athletes preparing for major international competitions. The support includes ₹15 lakh for Olympic preparations and ₹8 lakh for preparations for the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
The state has also expanded its sporting calendar through events such as ‘Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan’, hosted the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy and introduced the ‘She-e-Punjab T20 League’, modelled on the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Through these initiatives, the government aims to improve access to sports, identify talent in rural areas and provide young athletes with opportunities to compete at national and international levels.
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Ask News18Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann inaugurated 1,000 additional village sports grounds, bringing the total number of completed and inaugurated facilities to 1,764 under the goal of developing 3,100 ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’ across the state.
Ask News18November 11, 2026, 9:43 PM IST
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