Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to inaugurate Khedan Watan Punjab Diya at Bathinda on August 29: Meet Hayer

Chandigarh News: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will inaugurate season-2 of Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sports Stadium in Bathinda on National Sports Day (29th August). This time 5 new sports Cycling, Equestrian, Rugby, Wushu and Volleyball (Shooting) have been added to the Khedan Watan Punjab Diya-2023 and the number of age groups has also been increased from six to eight. A portal www.khedanwatanpunjabdia.com has been launched by the Chief Minister for the registration of players on which the players are getting registered.

Giving information in the press statement issued here today, Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that this time, 35 Sports will be held in eight age groups. The torch relay, to be lit at the opening ceremony of the Games, began today from the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana where the closing ceremony of the first season of the Games was held. This torch will tour all the 23 district headquarters of the state and reach Bathinda on August 29 for the inauguration ceremony.

The Sports Minister said that this time there are eight age groups under 14, under 17, under 21, 21-30 years, 31-40 years, 41-55 years, 56-65 years and above 65 years. Athletics, Hockey, Football, Volleyball (Shooting and Smashing), Kabaddi (Circle and National Style), Handball, Boxing, Basketball, Wrestling, Judo, Archery, Shooting, Powerlifting, Lawn Tennis, Badminton, KickBoxing, Kayaking and Canoeing, Kho Kho, Gymnastics, Swimming, Netball, Gatka, Chess, Table Tennis, Roller Skating, Weightlifting, Softball, Rowing, Equestrian, Cycling, Wushu, Rugby and Fencing events will be held.

Meet Hayer further said that Block level competitions will be conducted from 1st to 10th September, District level competitions from 16th to 26th September and State level competitions from 1st to 20th October. Prizes of Rs. 10,000, 7000 and 5000 will be given to the respectively first, second and third place winners at the state level. He said that after the success of the first season of Kheda Watan Punjab Diyan which was the brainchild of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to create a sports culture in the state and make Punjab front-ranking state in sports, this year the second season of Kheda Watan Punjab Diyan will be organized at large scale for which the Sports Department has done all arrangements.