India, Aug. 25 -- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday inaugurated 509 modern 'Pendu Khed Maidan' across the state, taking the total number of dedicated rural playgrounds to 734 and giving a major push to grassroots sports. Mann said the initiative would provide rural youth with modern sporting facilities and strengthen the government's campaign against drugs with the message, "Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Sports." The Chief Minister said 3,100 Pendu Khed Maidan were being developed across Punjab with an allocation of Rs 1,500 crore. The grounds would offer facilities for football, cricket, volleyball and traditional sports, besides amenities for children and senior citizens. Also Read - Will provide government jobs to one lakh youth within six months: CM Yogi Adityanath Advertisement The playgrounds will have high-mast lights, walking tracks with footlights, chain-link fencing, football goalposts, volleyball poles and swings. Sports equipment will also be provided according to the games popular in individual villages. Mann said the state had dedicated 2026 to sports and sportspersons and was also establishing rural gyms. Of the 6,000 rural gyms planned, 500 had already been inaugurated, he said. He said the fourth season of 'Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan' would begin from Bathinda on September 5, with around 10 lakh players expected to participate. Punjab will also host the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy for the first time, with matches scheduled in Jalandhar and Mohali during October-November. A T20 cricket league, on the lines of the IPL, will also be held at PCA Stadium, Mohali, from August 30 to September 13. Highlighting the government's sports spending, Mann said Punjab had allocated a record Rs 1,744 crore sports budget, including Rs 1,500 crore for rural playgrounds. He said Rs 135 crore in prize money had been distributed to 40,415 sportspersons since 2022. Under the state's sports policy, athletes are also receiving financial assistance for training and preparation, including Rs 15 lakh for the Olympics and Rs 8 lakh for Asian and Commonwealth Games.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.