CHANDIGARH: AAP senior spokesperson and MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer praised the Mann government of Punjab for successfully reviving the state's sports culture and for implementing an excellent new sports policy. Hayer said that the main objective of sports policy and tournaments like Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan is to make Punjab no. 1 state in sports again and to promote sports culture among people of all ages.
Addressing the media, along with senior spokesperson and chairman Neel Garg, at the party office on Friday, Hayer highlighted that the 3rd Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan is currently underway. This year, three new sports—cycling, baseball, and taekwondo—have been introduced, along with the inclusion of para-athletics, para-powerlifting, and para-badminton for the first time. He noted that the event is expanding each year, with more players participating and more games being added. Previously, there were eight age categories, but this time, the 70+ age group has been added, making it nine age groups in total.
Hayer explained that cash prizes, which were previously awarded to age groups up to 40, will now also be given to winners in the 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, and 70+ age categories. Medal winners up to the age of 40 will receive a total cash prize of approximately Rs. 9 crore, while the 1, 221 medal winners in the above-40 categories will share Rs. 90 lakh in cash prizes.
The AAP leader also briefed the media on the Sports Medicine Cadre, announcing that Punjab is set to become the first state to establish such a cadre. He explained that this cadre will consist of 113 members, with Group A and B each having 16 posts, Group C comprising 80 posts, and Group D having 1 post. Hayer noted that no other state has a dedicated sports medicine cadre; instead, they typically hire people on a contract basis or lack such facilities altogether. In contrast, the Punjab government has officially notified the formation of an organized Sports Medicine Cadre.
Hayer further emphasized that the new sports policy is being implemented in Punjab and will soon demonstrate its success. According to this policy, all national and international players from Punjab will be guaranteed jobs. Players who have been active since January 1, 2016, can apply for these positions. He pointed out that the Mann government is committed to providing employment opportunities to players who were neglected during the Akali and Congress administrations. Additionally, sports nurseries are being developed in Punjab based on local talent and the popularity of specific sports. For the first time, astroturfs are being installed in the Malwa region, and coaches and other staff are being recruited for these nurseries.
MP Sangrur stated that from April 2022 to the present, the Mann government of Punjab has awarded Rs. 88 crores to players. In the 2022 Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan, prize money amounted to Rs. 6.85 crores, which increased to Rs. 8.87 crores in 2023. Additionally, Rs. 12.50 crores were awarded to Punjab's Paris Olympians. Players from the 2023 Asian Games, 2022 Commonwealth Games, and national events also received cash prizes.
Meet Hayer highlighted that Punjab is unique in providing financial support to players before competitions, enabling them to better prepare for international events. Olympic athletes were awarded Rs. 25 lakhs each, and para-Olympians from Punjab also received Rs. 25 lakhs each.