CHANDIGARH, AUG 26 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday launched the T-shirt and logo for the third edition of the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Dian’ (KWPD) to be kicked off from August 29.

Mann said the mega sporting event will be launched on August 29 to commemorate National Sports Day, the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand. He said the over two-month long sporting extravaganza will begin from the War Heroes Stadium in Sangrur. Mann said it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that this time around 5 lakh players will vie for medals in nine age groups of 37 games.

Mann said a cash prize of over Rs 9 crore will be distributed to the winners. He said for the first time, para sports, including athletics, badminton and power lifting, have also been included in the Khedan Watan Punjab Dian’. He said in these three sports, para athletes from Punjab are participating in the Paris Paralympics.

He said the event aims at channelising the unbounded energy of youth in positive direction to wean them away from the drug menace.

Block level competitions will be held from September 1 to 10, district level competitions from September 15 to 22 and state level meet from October 11 to November 9.

Mann said the second season of “Khedan Watan Punjab Dian” was held in 2023 in which 4.5 lakh players participated and Rs 8.87 crore rupees were distributed to 12,500 winners. (UNI)