Punjab's New Sports Revolution: More Budget, New Policy, and New Era of Respect for Athletes

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab has passed through a remarkable transformation in its sports culture on the strength of new vision and concrete policies. The sports budget of the state, which was a paltry ₹100 crore till 2022, has now been increased manifold to ₹1,000 crore by the present government, amply reflecting its sound commitment to the cause of sports development.

For Punjab's athletes, new doors of opportunity have been opened with the implementation of a new sports policy in 2023. This outlines benefits like government job opportunities, cash rewards and international-level training facilities. ₹15 lakh each as an advance grant has been given for preparation to every Punjabi athlete representing India in the Olympics. Besides that, seven players have been appointed as DSPs and four as PCS officers, including nine hockey players, one cricketer, and one athlete.

The ambitious state-government program "Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan" saw participation from more than five lakh players in its three successful seasons, compared to merely 20–25 thousand earlier — a sure sign that the sports culture of Punjab is indeed on its way back.

Chief Minister Mann proudly expressed the sporting contribution of Punjab, saying Punjabis are leading four national teams, with names such as Harmanpreet Kaur, Shubman Gill, and Harmanpreet Singh at the forefront. As many as nine Punjabi players represent the Indian hockey team alone today, which shows the rich sporting heritage of the state.

The state government has also declared cash prizes of ₹1 crore for gold medalists, ₹75 lakh for silver medalists, and ₹50 lakh for bronze medalists at the international level. This move not only serves to honor the athletes but also inspires the next generation, sending a very strong signal that in Punjab, sports are no longer just a passion but have actually become a respectable career and way of life.