Punjab’s sporting talent has brought glory to the Indian flag on various platforms across the country and the world, and now the state government has taken a historic initiative to recognize their achievements. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann honored 87 Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award winners and 1,070 medal-winning athletes from the state with prize money totaling ₹32.05 crore.
Several important announcements were also made on this occasion for the bright future of the athletes. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab is emerging as a rising sporting power in the country, providing athletes with respect, financial support, and employment opportunities simultaneously. The state government is striving to elevate the sports culture to new heights by awarding Olympic and Asian Games medal winners ₹1 crore each and providing government jobs to the athletes.
Highlighting the decisive change in the field of sports during a function held at the Municipal Bhawan in Sector 35 here today, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced a historic sports budget of Rs 1,763 crore for the year 2026-27 and the development of 3,148 rural sports grounds at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore to nurture sporting talent at the grassroots level.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that Punjab will host the Asian Championship Trophy for the first time and there will be an exciting India-Pakistan match on Punjab Day on November 1. Taking a dig at previous governments,
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that despite Punjab producing countless champions for the country, the state was never given the opportunity to host any major sporting event before. He said that sports associations were dominated by politically connected individuals rather than actual players. Geographical Context
Addressing the grand felicitation ceremony, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this day was a historic moment for Punjab as 87 athletes were honored with the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, while 1,070 medal winners from various sports were also honored. He said, “For the first time in Punjab’s history, the government has distributed prize money worth Rs 32.05 crore among athletes. The Punjab government has not only honored Olympic and Asian Games medalists with Rs 1 crore each, but has also provided jobs to nine medal-winning athletes.”
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Punjab’s athletes have brought great honor to the country and the state through their achievements at the international level. It is our responsibility to stand firmly with them and ensure they receive the respect, recognition, and support they deserve.”
Highlighting the Punjab government’s approach to sports, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for the first time, 220 athletes from Punjab were provided with Rs 8.61 crore for preparation for sports competitions. He further said, “The Punjab government has allocated a record sports budget of Rs 1,763 crore for the financial year 2026-27 for sports infrastructure and athlete development across the state. To nurture talented athletes in villages, 3,148 rural sports grounds are being developed at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore. These grounds will become beacons for emerging athletes from villages.”
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab will host the Asian Championship Trophy for the first time, calling it a proud moment for the state’s sporting heritage. He further announced that the much-anticipated India-Pakistan match during this tournament will be held on Punjab Day. He said, “Punjab has given the country countless medals and champions, yet previous governments never ensured that the state had the opportunity to host major international sporting events. We have changed that mindset and brought Punjab to the center of India’s sports map.” Weather
Taking a dig at the old system, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that sports associations in Punjab were previously dominated by politically connected individuals, but the Punjab government has ended that trend and opened the doors to ordinary athletes based on merit.
Taking a major initiative to transform Punjab into a sports powerhouse, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab government has successfully cleared the decades-long backlog of pending awards from 2019 to 2023 by presenting the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awards to top national and international athletes and distributing substantial cash prizes.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab government has also changed the old practice of awarding athletes only after winning. He said that athletes are now being financially supported before tournaments to help them prepare and compete at a high level. He said, “To assist our athletes, the Punjab government has transferred over 15 crore rupees directly to their bank accounts through the newly launched sports portal for training and the purchase of high-end sports equipment. This portal also includes special grants for sports such as fencing, kayaking, shooting, and archery and will help connect athletes with corporate sponsors.”