Spotlight
oi-Oneindia Staff
Punjab’s fourth edition of ‘Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan-2026’ got underway in Bathinda on Saturday, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann outlining an ambitious plan to expand the state’s sporting culture and take its athletes to the national and international stage.
Punjab’s fourth ‘Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan-2026’ launched in Bathinda, expecting 10 lakh participants aged 14-70 across 39 sports with ₹12.50 crore prize money, concluding November 29 in Patiala. Commonwealth medalists Harjinder Kaur and Lovepreet Singh were honored with ₹50 lakh each at the opening.
The flagship sporting programme is expected to draw nearly 10 lakh participants, ranging from 14-year-olds to athletes above 70, across 39 disciplines, including four para-sports. The Games will culminate in Patiala on November 29, with ₹12.50 crore earmarked as prize money. For the first time, veteran participants will also be eligible for cash awards.
At the launch event, Mann also felicitated Commonwealth Games-2026 silver medallists Harjinder Kaur and Lovepreet Singh, presenting each of them with ₹50 lakh.
Bathinda hosts colourful opening ceremony
The fourth season opened at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Bathinda amid performances celebrating Punjab’s sporting and cultural traditions. Bhangra and Giddha added a distinctly Punjabi flavour to the ceremony, while legendary singer Gurdas Maan and Kulwinder Billa performed for the gathering.
A symbolic launch followed as Mann and Gurdas Maan released colourful balloons into the sky, officially marking the beginning of the fourth edition.
Sharing glimpses of the inauguration on X, Mann stated: “Today, the fourth season of ‘Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan-2026’ was grandly inaugurated at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Bathinda. This year, the target is to bring around 10 lakh players onto the playing fields across 39 sports. Prize money of ₹12.50 crore has been earmarked for the winners, and for the first time, veteran players will also receive cash prizes. From the same platform today, Commonwealth Games-2026 medal winners Harjinder Kaur and Lovepreet Singh were honoured with prize money of ₹50 lakh each. Our campaign to steer Punjab’s youth away from drugs and towards sports, and to make the state number one in sports once again, continues unabated. Inquilab Zindabad.”
Announcing the Games open at the stadium, the Chief Minister said, “We are known for our valour, enterprise and sporting spirit, due to which we have always excelled in every field. These Games aim at channelising this spirit and providing our youth with a platform to excel in sports.”
10 lakh participants across nine age groups
Mann said the Games Torch, which began its journey from Sangrur on August 12, had also reached Bathinda for the opening ceremony.
“This year, the target is to involve around 10 lakh players across the state, thereby channelising the unbounded energy of the youth towards sports and other positive pursuits. Players from nine age groups, ranging from 14 years to above 70 years, will participate in the Games,” he added.
The 2026 edition will feature 39 sports along with four para-sports: athletics, powerlifting, badminton and wheelchair basketball.
Tennis-ball cricket for both boys and girls has also been introduced as a demonstration sport for the first time. The Games will conclude in Patiala on November 29.
“Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan is the best platform for identifying, nurturing and polishing hidden sporting talent from every corner of Punjab’s villages and cities,” said Mann, adding that the state government is committed to preparing children for competitions at national and international levels.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the programme’s ability to bring different generations onto the same sporting platform. He recalled that earlier editions had seen three generations of a family, including a grandfather, father and grandson, competing together.
“In the Yudh Nashean Virudh campaign, sports are our strongest and most effective weapon,” he said.
₹12.50 crore prize pool announced
Mann described the Games as a mass movement designed to promote fitness, discipline, confidence and strength among Punjab’s youth.
“The sole aim of this endeavour is to connect the youth of Punjab with sports and make Punjab a frontrunner in games,” he said, adding that his government was taking steps to ensure young athletes received greater opportunities.
The state has set aside ₹12.50 crore in prize money for the winning athletes. Another first this year is the introduction of cash awards for veteran athletes.
“State-level gold medal winners will receive ₹10,000, silver medal winners ₹7,000 and bronze medal winners ₹5,000. Medal-winning athletes up to 40 years of age will also receive grading certificates, enabling them to avail the benefits of the sports quota in government jobs,” he added.
Previous editions drew lakhs of players
Mann also pointed to the growing participation in the earlier editions of Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan.
Across the first three seasons, the government distributed ₹25.51 crore in prize money.
The 2022 inaugural season attracted around 3.50 lakh players, with 9,688 athletes winning medals and ₹6.88 crore distributed as prize money.
In 2023, participation increased to around four lakh players. As many as 12,500 players won medals, while ₹8.87 crore was distributed.
The third edition in 2024 saw participation rise further to approximately 4.35 lakh players. Around 14,500 athletes won medals and ₹9.76 crore was distributed.
The Games were not held in 2025 because of floods. Mann said the programme has now returned on a significantly larger scale.
“This year, Punjab is once again witnessing these Games in an even bigger way,” he said.
₹1,744 crore sports budget
Highlighting the government’s spending on sports, Mann said Punjab had, for the first time, set aside ₹1,744 crore exclusively for the sports sector.
“For the first time in the history of Punjab, a budget of ₹1,744 crore has been earmarked exclusively for sports,” he said.
He added that since 2022, athletes had received ₹135 crore in prize money, benefiting 40,415 players.
“The Chief Minister stated, “Under the New Sports Policy, financial assistance is also being provided to athletes for preparation for major competitions. ₹15 lakh is being provided for Olympic preparation and ₹8 lakh for preparation for the Asian and Commonwealth Games. So far, ₹15 crore has been distributed to athletes for training and preparation.”
Mann also recalled the state’s recognition of its athletes following the Paris Olympics.
“Each of the eight Punjabi players in the Indian hockey team that won the bronze medal was awarded ₹1 crore, while 11 athletes who brought laurels to Punjab at the national and international level were appointed as PCS/DSP officers,” he added.
He said 20 athletes from Punjab who competed at the Paris Olympics had earlier been awarded a combined ₹9.80 crore.
Focus on grassroots sporting infrastructure
Punjab’s performance at the Asian Games-2023 was also highlighted during the event. According to Mann, athletes from the state won 20 medals, while ₹30 crore was distributed among 33 medal-winning athletes.
“Likewise, 85 athletes were honoured with the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, while two national-level medal-winning athletes were appointed as coaches and 42 as junior coaches,” he added.
The government is also expanding sports facilities at the grassroots level. Mann said 3,148 ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’ rural sports grounds were being developed across Punjab, with 750 already inaugurated.
“6,000 gyms are being established, with 500 already dedicated to the people in the first phase. ₹12.50 crore had been transferred directly into the bank accounts of 9,501 athletes for purchasing sports equipment,” he added.
Mann sets 2036 Olympic target
Emphasising Punjab’s contribution to Indian sport, Mann said the state has consistently produced athletes who have represented India at major international competitions.
“Punjab has made an unparalleled contribution to Indian sports over the last several decades, both at the national and international levels,” affirmed CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
He pointed to the presence of Punjabi athletes in leadership roles across different sports. Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, Indian men’s cricket captain Shubman Gill, Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Indian basketball captain Palpreet Singh Brar are all from Punjab.
“Eight players from Punjab, including the captain, are part of the Indian team for the Hockey World Cup, while 27 Punjabi athletes participated in the Asian Games-2026,” he added.
Punjab is also set to host the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time since Independence, with matches scheduled in Jalandhar and Mohali during October-November.
“The people of Punjab will get the opportunity to watch their hockey stars play on their home soil,” he said.
Looking ahead, Mann expressed confidence that Punjab could significantly increase its contribution to India’s Olympic medal tally.
“In the next 10 years, at the 2036 Olympics, Punjab’s players will win more than 10 medals for India,” he said.
He said the government was working on infrastructure and support systems to identify promising athletes early and help them progress from grassroots competitions to the highest levels.
Mann urges parents to encourage children to play
The Chief Minister also appealed to parents to make sports a regular part of their children’s lives, stressing that success should not be measured only through medals.
“It is not necessary for every child to win a medal, but sports will certainly provide children with fitness, discipline, self-confidence, team spirit and the courage to move forward in life,” he said.
The opening ceremony also featured several prominent athletes. Gurpreet Singh (Athletics), Rupinder Pal Singh (Hockey), Lovepreet Singh (Weightlifting), Harjinder Kaur (Weightlifting), Avtar Singh (Judo), Simranjeet Singh (Hockey), Avneet Kaur (Shooting) and Gurjant Singh (Hockey) took part in the Torch ceremony.
World Championship medal winner Parneet Kaur (Archery) administered the oath to the participating athletes, while Asian Games medal winner Charanjeet Singh led the flag march.
Cabinet Ministers Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Tarunpreet Singh Sond and Hardeep Singh Mundian, Lok Sabha MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and other dignitaries were also present at the inauguration.
