Punjab CM honours 87 Maharaja Ranjit Singh awardees, 1,070 medal-winning athletes
Chandigarh, May 24
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
Reader Comments
Good move but I hope this isn't just a one-time gimmick before elections. Punjab has produced so many Olympians but the infrastructure has always been poor. Rs 1,763 crore budget sounds impressive but let's see how much actually reaches the ground level. Actions speak louder than words! 🤔
Hosting Asian Champions Trophy and India-Pakistan match on Punjab Day? That's brilliant! 🏑 Our state deserves to host major events after decades of neglect. Those politicians who ran sports associations only for their own benefit should be exposed. Mann saab is right - genuine players need support, not political connections.
Impressive commitment from Punjab government. As someone who follows Indian sports closely, I've seen how athletes from Punjab dominate hockey, wrestling, and athletics despite limited resources. This kind of investment could transform them into a global sports powerhouse. Hope other states take note.
Great initiative but what about women athletes? I hope the distribution of these awards and jobs was gender-balanced. Punjab's female sportspersons have also brought laurels - from hockey to wrestling. Would love to see more specific data on how many women were among the 1,070 medal winners.
This is what visionary leadership looks like! 3,148 rural sports grounds will be a game-changer for village kids who have talent but no platform. My cousin from a small village near Ludhiana had to travel 30 km daily just to practice. No more of that struggle for the next generation. Good job CM Mann! 💪
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