Chandigarh: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today announced that the Punjab Government will organize the fourth edition of 'Khedaan Watan Punjab Diyan' from September 5 to November 29, targeting to engage more than 10 lakh participants of all age groups. Organized with the aim of reviving the sports culture of Punjab and channelizing the energy of the youth towards sports, this mega sports festival will begin with the opening ceremony at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Bathinda and conclude with the closing ceremony in Patiala. This edition of the year 2026 is planned to be the biggest sports Mahakumbh till date.
Big statement of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann
Posting on the social media platform 'X', Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Sports will be made the biggest weapon to channelize the energy of the youth and fight the fight against drugs. 'Khedaan Watan Punjab Diyaan' season-4 is being launched by the Punjab government from Bathinda from September 5. More than 10 lakh players are expected to enter the field this year, while its final will be played in Patiala on November 29.”
At the end of the post, he wrote, “For the first time, a huge budget of Rs 1,794 crore has been kept for sports. Along with the development of 3,148 sports grounds and 6,000 gyms in villages, special work is also being done in the field of sports medicine. Let us see three generations of Punjab playing together on the same field and make Punjab a leading state in sports.”
Addressing a press conference here, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the fourth edition of 'Khedaan Watan Punjab Diyan' will start on September 5 and the games will be inaugurated at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Bathinda. He said that it is a matter of great happiness that this year a target has been set to include 10 lakh players in these sports. 'Khedaan Watan Punjab Diyan' is the best platform to identify, encourage and nurture the hidden sports talents in every village, town and city of Punjab.
The Chief Minister said, “Through these games, we aim to prepare our children and youth for national and international level competitions. The specialty of 'Khedaan Watan Punjab Diyan' is that it connects different generations. In the previous editions, three generations of the same family, including grandfather, father and son, had participated in these games. This year players from nine age groups ranging from 14 years to over 70 years of age will participate.”
He said that this year, competitions will be held in a total of 38 sports disciplines, including four para sports—Para Athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Badminton and Wheelchair Basketball. He said that this year a very simple registration process has been started and the registration is completely free. The Sports Department has started code based registration for the first time, through which players can register themselves anytime and from anywhere.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that registration can also be done through the portal of the Sports Department and this process has already started. He appealed to all the players to register themselves and participate enthusiastically in these games. These competitions will be conducted at block, district and state levels covering all 153 blocks and 23 districts of Punjab. State level sports competitions will be held in 16 districts.
The Chief Minister said that for the first time, tennis ball cricket has been included as a demonstration sport for both boys and girls. The Mashal March (torch relay) started on 12 August and will pass through all the districts of Punjab before reaching its destination on 5 September. The Games will conclude on November 29 in Patiala. At the state level, gold medal winners will be given Rs 10,000, silver medal winners will be given Rs 7,000 and bronze medal winners will be given Rs 5,000.
He said that medal winners up to the age of 40 years will also be given gradation certificates, so that they will be eligible to avail the benefits of sports quota in government jobs. Prize money worth Rs 25.51 crore has been distributed among the players during the first three seasons, indicating the huge success of these games.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 3.50 lakh players took part in the first season, 9,688 players won medals and prize money worth Rs 6.88 crore was distributed. More than 4 lakh players participated in the second season, 12,500 players won medals and prize money of Rs 8.87 crore was distributed. In the third season, 4.35 lakh players participated, 14,500 players won medals and Rs 9.76 crore was distributed. He told that due to floods these games could not be organized in the year 2025.
The Chief Minister said that sports have always been an integral part of the glorious cultural heritage of Punjab. A new sports policy was brought in the year 2023 to channelize the immense energy of the youth in a positive direction. This increased the budget allocation for sports and provided cash awards to players as well as financial assistance for training and preparation.
He said, “For the first time in the history of Punjab, a budget of Rs 1,744 crore has been kept only for the promotion of sports. For the first time in the history of Punjab after the year 2022, a total prize money of Rs 135 crore has been distributed to 40,415 players across the state.”
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that players are also being given financial assistance for training and preparation. Rs 15 lakh is being given for the preparation of Olympic Games and Rs 8 lakh is being given for the preparation of Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. 85 sportspersons have been honored with the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, while 11 sportspersons who have brought glory to Punjab at national and international level have been appointed as PCS/DSP officers.
The Chief Minister stressed that promoting sports culture could prove to be one of the most effective tools of the State Government in its campaign against drugs and that is why the Government was paying special attention to promoting sports. He said that the youth associated with sports do not even have time to look towards drugs, because they are putting all their energy into achieving success in their respective fields. This will go a long way in eradicating the menace of drug addiction in the state and making the youth equal partners in the social and economic development of Punjab.
He said that the concept of the year 2026 edition presents 'Khedaan Watan Punjab Diyan' as an important medium to strengthen the sports culture of the state and channelize the energy of the youth towards sports.
The Chief Minister said that 3,100 rural sports grounds are being developed across the state. For the first time since independence, Punjab is hosting the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, the matches of which will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali during October-November. This will give the people of Punjab an opportunity to see their hockey stars playing on their home ground. He said that it is a matter of pride and joy that eight players from Punjab are currently representing the Indian hockey team in the World Hockey Cup being held in Europe.
Highlighting the existing sporting culture of Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh, Indian men's cricket team captain Shubhman Gill, Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Indian basketball team captain Palpreet Singh Brar—all belong to Punjab.
The Chief Minister said that for the first time since independence, India crossed the magical figure of 100 medals including 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze in the Asian Games. Punjabis made a big contribution by winning 20 medals during the Asian Games 2023.
He said that 32 players of Punjab broke the 72 year old record of Punjab's performance in these games by winning eight gold, six silver and six bronze medals. Earlier, Punjab players had won seven gold medals each in the Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1951 and Jakarta in 1962. Punjab players created history by breaking this record by winning eight gold medals in the last Asian Games.
He said that earlier the maximum number of medals won by Punjab players in the Asian Games held in 1951 in New Delhi was 15, but after more than 70 years this record was also broken as Punjab players won 20 medals.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the government will continue to strengthen the level of sports and create wide opportunities for young players, so that Punjab can regain its leading position in the world of sports and also provide positive direction to its youth to move forward.
More than 10 lakh players will participate in 38 sports disciplines and four para sports in the fourth edition.
These games will be organized at block, district and state level. There will be seven sports at the block level, 28 sports at the district level and 38 sports at the state level along with four para sports disciplines at the state level. Para state level sports competitions will be held in Ludhiana from 25th to 28th November.
State level competitions will be held in three phases from October 10 to November 23 in 16 districts—Ludhiana, Mansa, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, S.A.S. Nagar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, Patiala, Sangrur, Rupnagar, Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Malerkotla.
The first phase will be held from October 10 to 15, which will include 13 sports disciplines. The second phase will be held from October 17 to 23, in which 13 sports disciplines will be held. The third phase will be held from 17 to 23 November, in which competitions will be held in 12 sports disciplines.
Competitions in four para sports disciplines—Para athletics, Para powerlifting, Para badminton and wheelchair basketball—will be held in Ludhiana from November 25 to 28.
Maximum utilization of newly constructed rural sports grounds will be ensured during block and district level competitions. Each competition will serve as a platform to unite people and bring together local leadership, Olympians, public figures and youth.