Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated his government’s vision of transforming Punjab into India’s powerhouse of sports, saying that the state is poised to reclaim its past glory on the national and global stage. Speaking at the grand finale of the Punjab Hockey League 2025 at Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, Mann said that Punjab’s identity has always been inseparable from sports and that “the day is not far when Punjab will be recognized as the number one state in India for sporting excellence.” He revealed that the government is planning to build international-standard hockey and cricket stadiums in Amritsar and Jalandhar to strengthen the state’s sports infrastructure.
Calling the Punjab Hockey League a landmark step, Mann said it is “the first junior hockey league in the country and also the tournament with the highest prize money.” He noted that the event united three generations of hockey players on one platform, showcasing how deeply the love for sports runs through Punjab’s culture and heritage.
Highlighting the state’s dominance in Indian hockey, the Chief Minister reminded the audience that half of India’s Asia Cup-winning hockey squad came from Punjab, and the same trend continued at the last two Olympic Games. He said that Jalandhar has already gained recognition worldwide as a “Sports Capital,” and his government is determined to carry that legacy forward by constructing more than 3,000 sports grounds across the state in the coming years.
Mann stressed that sports have become a powerful weapon against the menace of drugs, helping channel the energy of Punjab’s youth toward fitness, teamwork, and discipline. “It fills me with pride to see our youth returning to the playgrounds in such large numbers,” he said, pointing out that his government is investing heavily in sports infrastructure, including the ongoing development of Burlton Park into a modern sports center and the establishment of a world-class sports hub in Amritsar.
On the manufacturing front, the Chief Minister said that Punjab, particularly Jalandhar, is ready to regain its position as a global leader in sports equipment production. “From hockey sticks to cricket gear, Jalandhar’s craftsmanship has been part of international sporting history,” he said.
During the event, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora announced an innovative project for youth development in Sunam. He explained that the newly constructed bus terminal there is a multi-purpose model that merges community needs and sports facilities—offering passengers and traders services on the ground floor and featuring an advanced indoor sports hall on the upper level for games like kabaddi, wrestling, karate, and judo.
Mann further shared that his government has taken significant steps to honor the state’s athletes. Several sportspersons, including nine hockey players, have been appointed as Deputy Superintendents of Police and PCS officers, while Olympians who represented India in global hockey tournaments have been formally recognized and celebrated by the state.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister said that just as Punjab has taken the lead in governance, education, and healthcare, it will soon do the same in sports. “Our goal is clear—every village in Punjab should become a cradle of sporting excellence,” Mann declared, adding that the creation of world-class facilities in Amritsar and Jalandhar marks the beginning of this new era for the state.
