Chandigarh, May 24 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday unveiled one of the biggest sports promotion drives by honouring 87 Maharaja Ranjit Singh awardees and 1,070 medal-winning athletes with prize money of Rs 32.05 crore.

He also announced an expansion of the state’s sports ecosystem from villages to international arenas.

The Chief Minister declared that Punjab would host the Asian Champions Trophy for the first time, with the high-voltage India-Pakistan clash set to be played on Punjab Day on November 1.

Taking a dig at previous regimes, he said Punjab, despite producing countless champions for the country, was never given the opportunity to host a major sporting event, while sports associations remained dominated by politically connected individuals instead of genuine players.

Addressing a grand felicitation ceremony, CM Mann said the day marked a historic moment for Punjab as 87 players were conferred with the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, while 1,070 medal-winning sportspersons from different disciplines were also honoured.

“For the first time in Punjab’s history, the government has distributed prize money of Rs 32.05 crore among players through cheques. The Punjab government has not only honoured Olympic and Asian Games medalists with Rs 1 crore each but has also provided jobs to nine medal-winning players,” he said.

“The players of Punjab have brought immense pride to the country and the state through their achievements on international platforms. It is our responsibility to stand firmly with them and ensure they receive the respect, recognition, and support they deserve.” Highlighting the government’s sports vision, CM Mann said for the first time, 220 players were granted Rs 8.61 crore to prepare for tournaments.

“The Punjab government has allocated a record sports budget of Rs 1,763 crore for 2026-27 to strengthen sports infrastructure and athlete development across the state. To nurture talented players in villages, 3,148 rural sports grounds are being developed at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore. These grounds will become guiding lights for emerging players from rural Punjab,” he added.

–IANS

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