Chandigarh: Punjab’s sporting landscape is witnessing a major push, chief minister Bhagwant Mann said on Tuesday while presenting the state’s four-year sports report card, describing it as a “Khed Kranti” driven by increased funding, infrastructure expansion and athlete support.Mann highlighted a sharp rise in the sports budget from Rs 350 crore to Rs 1,791 crore, an increase in coaches from 500 to 2,458, and financial support of Rs 15 lakh for Olympic preparation and Rs 8 lakh for Asian Games athletes.He said 3,100 playgrounds and 3,000 gyms have been developed, 17,000 sports kits distributed, and participation in “Khedan Watan Punjab Dian” has grown from 1.5 lakh to 5 lakh players.The chief minister said Punjab has, for the first time, secured hosting rights for the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy and the National Badminton Championship (U-13) after four decades.“The Asian Games will conclude on Oct 3-4 and the top six performing hockey teams will vie for it. For the first time, Punjab has got the opportunity to hold this international event,” Mann said, adding that a four-nation invitational hockey tournament has also been approved.He said matches will be held at Balbir Singh Sr Hockey Stadium and Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, while the badminton championship will also be hosted in the city after 40 years.Highlighting policy measures, Mann said a new sports policy introduced in 2023 provides financial support for athletes. “In the 2023 Asian Games, Punjab athletes won 20 medals, which is a historic record,” he said.He added that Olympic bronze medallists (Paris 2024) and Asian Games gold medallists were awarded ₹1 crore each, while nine Olympic medallists were given PCS and DSP jobs. Nearly ₹100 crore has been distributed as prize money over the past four years. “There is a historic increase in the sports budget, which rose to Rs 1,791 crore in 2026-27 from Rs 350 crore in 2023–24. The number of coaches has been increased from 500 to 2,458 and 324 new coaches have been recruited, while 48 accomplished players have been appointed as coaches,” he said.Rs 100cr prize money in 4 years₹1,791 crore | Sports budget (up from ₹350 crore)2,458 | Coaches (up from 500); 324 newly recruited, 48 former players appointed₹15 lakh / ₹8 lakh | Financial support for Olympic and Asian Games preparation3,100 | Playgrounds developed3,000 | Gyms set up across the state17,000 | Sports kits distributed20 medals | Punjab’s haul at 2023 Asian Games₹1 crore each | Award for Olympic (Paris 2024) bronze medallists and Asian Games gold winners₹100 crore | Prize money distributed in 4 years QUOTEDespite strong Punjabi representation, Punjab had never hosted a major hockey tournament until now. For the first time, Punjab will host the Asian Champions Trophy in October and it is Asia’s most prestigious hockey tournamentBhagwant Mann | Punjab CM
