Chandigarh: The Punjab government organized a grand state-level sports awards ceremony in Chandigarh on Sunday to celebrate the exceptional achievements of the region’s top athletic talent. During the high-profile event, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann presented the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award to 87 prominent athletes from across the state. In a major push to boost sports infrastructure and athlete morale, the provincial administration distributed a massive cash prize pool totaling 32.05 crore rupees among the decorated sportspersons.
The Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award stands as the highest sports honour bestowed by the state of Punjab, reserved exclusively for athletes who deliver stellar performances at national and international arenas to bring global laurels to the province. The ceremony witnessed a gathering of iconic sports personalities, including Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who highly praised the current administration’s proactive stance on athlete welfare. Kaur expressed her deep appreciation for the continuous recognition and structural support that Punjabi sportspersons have received since the government took charge, noting that such initiatives act as a catalyst for future generations.
Echoing similar sentiments, Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh offered his heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister Mann for implementing grassroots initiatives to revive the rich sports culture of Punjab. Reflecting on his long career spanning nearly two decades, the hockey veteran shared that watching homegrown athletes receive global respect and premium resources within their home state has been a long-cherished dream. Singh highlighted that the ongoing development of world-class playgrounds, modern training academies, and advanced sports facilities across rural and urban sectors will inevitably cultivate a new generation of world champions dedicated to winning international medals for the country.
