CHANDIGARH: To make Punjab the leading state of the country in sports and to create sporting culture, under the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, after the success of the first season of 'Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan' launched, it has been decided to start torch relay for the first time to create awareness about sports before the start of season-2 this year.
Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer disclosed here today that according to the tradition of the Games, this time the torch relay will start tomorrow on August 22 from Ludhiana before the opening ceremony of the season-2 of the Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan and will be taken to every district headquarters in Punjab for a week. He said that last year the first season of 'Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan' had ended in Ludhiana, due to which the torch will be started from Ludhiana and after marching all over Punjab, the torch will reach Bathinda on August 29, where the second season of the Games will be inaugurated. The torch relay at each district headquarters will be attended by local eminent sportspersons, sports department personnel, local representatives and district administration officials.
Divulging the details of the torch relay, the Sports Minister further said that it will go from Ludhiana to Moga on August 22, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran and Amritsar on August 23, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Hoshiarpur on August 24, Jalandhar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Rupnagar on August 25, SAS Nagar, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and Malerkotla on August 27, Patiala, Sangrur and Mansa on August 28, Barnala, Faridkot and Fazilka on August 28 and at Sri Muktsar Sahib and Bathinda on August 29.