The 69th National School Games got underway on Tuesday with a formal opening ceremony at Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana, setting the stage for a nationwide celebration of school level sports. The event was inaugurated by Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and has brought together young athletes from every state and Union Territory. Teams from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and Vidya Bharati institutions are also taking part in the Games, which will run from January 6 to January 11.
While addressing students, coaches and officials, Harjot Singh Bains outlined the sporting disciplines featured in this edition of the Games. He said that competitions include Under 14 judo for both boys and girls, Under 14 taekwondo for boys and girls, and Under 19 gatka events for both categories. He added that matches are being conducted at several venues across Ludhiana, including BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School in Shastri Nagar, Government Senior Secondary School, PAU Ludhiana, and the Open Air Theatre at PAU.
Describing the occasion as a proud moment for the state, the minister said Ludhiana and Punjab were honoured to host such a large national event. He noted that nearly 1,000 athletes and over 350 coaches have travelled from different regions of the country, including Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Andhra Pradesh and the North Eastern states.
He also spoke about the arrangements made for the visiting contingents, stating that the district administration had ensured proper facilities despite the winter conditions. According to him, accommodation, meals and transportation have been carefully planned, while security has been strengthened through the deployment of PCR teams and the installation of CCTV cameras at all competition venues.
Highlighting the state government’s long term commitment to sports development, Harjot Singh Bains said the Punjab government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is aggressively expanding sports infrastructure. He shared that construction of around 3,100 playgrounds across villages and urban areas is currently underway in the first phase, with the larger goal of ensuring that every village in Punjab has its own sports ground.
The minister also pointed to efforts being made to strengthen training and athlete support. He said coaches are being recruited in large numbers for sports nurseries focused on disciplines such as boxing, hockey and kabaddi. In addition, improvements have been made to players’ diets to help them train more effectively and deliver better performances.
Speaking about Punjab’s sports policy, Bains explained that the state has introduced a unique system of financial support. Under this policy, athletes selected for major international events such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships or the Olympics receive financial assistance in advance. He noted that while many states reward athletes only after they win medals, Punjab’s approach of supporting players beforehand has led to a noticeable rise in medal tallies.
He further said that Punjab’s sporting legacy is being revived, pointing out that the Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams, as well as the national hockey team, are currently performing strongly under the leadership of captains from Punjab. The growing presence of Punjabi players in the Indian hockey team, he added, reflects the state’s steady return to prominence in the world of sports.
Several dignitaries attended the opening ceremony, including MLA Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Director Secondary Education Gurinder Singh Sodhi, Mayor Principal Inderjit Kaur, Senior Deputy Mayor Rakesh Parashar, Deputy Mayor Prince Johar, District Education Officer Dimple Madan and District Sports Officer Kuldeep Chugh, along with senior officials from various government departments.
