Mohali, August 10: The AAP Punjab Youth Wing mobilized thousands of participants in Mohali for the ‘Punjab Youth Run 2026’, launching a multi-city athletic series intended to engage youth in sports and pull them away from drug usage under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ initiative.
Starting from Gurdwara Sri Amb Sahib, the 5.5-kilometre event saw involvement from children, competitive sportspersons, and senior citizens, with winners securing cash awards up to ₹11,000.
Connecting youngsters with physical fitness and local grounds remains a critical strategy in the fight against drug abuse, AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer declared. The administration increased Punjab’s sports budget from ₹150 crore to nearly ₹1,800 crore to ensure expanded access to athletic infrastructure across districts, the parliamentarian affirmed, urging citizens to integrate exercise into their daily lives rather than treating fitness as a one-time event.
Following the turn-out in Mohali, organizers confirmed that the marathon model will be replicated in several key districts over the coming weeks.
The Youth Wing will take similar marathon events to Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda, and Ludhiana so that the drive for healthy living reaches every part of Punjab, Youth Wing President and MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura maintained. The active turnout demonstrated a widespread collective desire for a healthy state, the legislator asserted, maintaining that popular support will help build a positive youth movement.
Initiatives that orient young people toward sports and healthy choices are fundamental to creating a strong and drug-free state, AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang declared, asserting that physical activity must become an integral part of everyday lifestyle for citizens across all age groups.
