Chandigarh : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday launched one of the largest sports promotion initiatives in the state’s history by honouring 87 Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awardees and 1,070 medal-winning athletes from various disciplines. A total prize money of ₹32.05 crore was distributed among the players during a grand felicitation ceremony.
In a major policy shift, CM Mann said the government has moved beyond rewarding athletes only after victories and is now supporting them financially before major competitions. For the first time, 220 athletes have been granted ₹8.61 crore to prepare for national and international tournaments. Additionally, more than ₹15 crore has been disbursed through the newly launched sports portal for training and the purchase of advanced sports equipment.
To strengthen sports infrastructure, the Punjab Government has allocated a record sports budget of ₹1,763 crore for 2026-27. The government is also developing 3,148 rural sports grounds at a cost of ₹1,300 crore to nurture talent at the grassroots level. Gym equipment is being installed in 6,000 villages, while 17,000 sports kits are being distributed across the state.
CM Mann said the government has cleared the long-pending honours from 2019 to 2023 by conferring the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awards on 87 distinguished athletes. Each awardee received ₹5 lakh along with a blazer, scroll and a commemorative emblem of Maharaja Ranjit Singh mounted on horseback. A total of ₹4.35 crore was distributed among the award recipients.
Highlighting Punjab’s rich sporting legacy, the Chief Minister noted that the state has produced several national team captains, including Indian Hockey Team Captain Harmanpreet Singh, Indian Men’s Cricket Team Captain Shubman Gill and Indian Women’s Cricket Team Captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
