CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday launched the T-shirt and logo for the third edition of the Kheda Watan Punjab Dian to be kicked off from August 29.
Launching the logo and t-shirt, the Chief Minister said that the mega sporting event will be launched on August 29 to commemorate National Sports Day- the birth anniversary of Hockey Wizard Major Dhyan Chand. He said that more than two months long sporting extravaganza will advent from the War Heroes Stadium in Sangrur. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that this time around five lakh players will vie for medals in nine age groups of 37 games.
The Chief Minister said that a cash prize of over Rs 9 crore will be distributed to the winners. He said that for the first time, para sports, including Athletics, Badminton and Power Lifting, have also been included in the Khedan Watan Punjab Dian. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that In these three sports, para athletes from Punjab are participating in the Paris Paralympics.
The Chief Minister said that this major sports event aims at channelising the unbounded energy of youth in positive direction to wean them away from menace of drugs. He said that during these games block level competitions will be held from September 1-10, district level competitions will be held from September 15-22 and state level competitions will be held from October 11 to November 9. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that second season of “Khedan Watan Punjab Dian” was held in the year 2023 in which 4.5 lakh players had participated and Rs 8.87 crore rupees were distributed to 12, 500 winning players.