Patiala, June 27: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann declared that sports serve as the most effective tool for steering the younger generation away from the menace of substance abuse. Speaking on Friday at the foundation stone laying ceremony of a modern sports stadium in Samana, the Chief Minister asserted that individuals engaged in athletic pursuits dedicate their entire energy toward excelling in their fields, leaving no room for negative distractions. He maintained that the administration is making unprecedented financial investments to establish 3,100 rural stadiums to foster a healthy sporting culture.
The Chief Minister noted that the upcoming international-standard facility in Samana will be built across nine acres of Panchayati land with an estimated allocation of ₹10.35 crore. He affirmed that the facility will feature an eight-lane, 400-meter synthetic athletics track designed to host premier running competitions alongside specialized areas for field events like shot put, long jump, and discuss throw. This infrastructure will provide athletes from the Samana constituency and neighboring regions with access to national-level training setups.
“Promotion of sports culture can be the most effective tool in the state government’s crusade against drugs. With the promotion of sports, the unbounded energy of the youth is being utilised for excelling in sports. The youth who are involved in sports have no time even to look at drugs because they are using all their might to excel in their respective fields. This will go a long way in eliminating the curse of drugs from the state,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated.
The Chief Minister shared that the state’s sports budget has witnessed a historic expansion, reaching ₹1,791 crore for the 2026–27 fiscal year. He added that the administration is developing 3,100 rural sports grounds equipped with modern amenities like fenced boundaries, floodlit walking tracks, high-capacity LED lighting, and dedicated courts for popular games. This comprehensive expansion is designed to support the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign.
The state government has also actively reaped fruits from its updated 2023 sports policy, which includes financial preparation rewards for elite tournaments and prestigious state jobs for Olympic medalists. The Chief Minister declared that the state is ready to mark a major milestone by hosting the prestigious Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Jalandhar this October.
“For the first time, Punjab will host the Asian Champions Trophy in October. It is Asia’s most prestigious hockey tournament under which matches will be held at Balbir Singh Sr. Hockey Stadium and Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar,” the Chief Minister stated.
