Barnala Cricket Championship kicks off with nearly 90 teams; MP Meet Hayer takes to the pitch
Kamaljeet Sandhu
Barnala (Punjab), October 10, 2026: The Barnala Cricket Championship got off to an enthusiastic start, with nearly 90 teams participating in the tournament aimed at promoting sports among youngsters and strengthening Punjab’s sporting culture.
The opening event witnessed the presence of several prominent personalities from politics, Punjabi music and cinema, including Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Punjabi singers Babbal Rai and Ninja, actor-singer Karamjit Anmol, comedian and singer Jagjit Singh Taliwal, and hockey player Harmanpreet Singh.
Meet Hayer joined the action on the cricket field, while singer-actor Ninja bowled to the MP and other celebrities, drawing cheers from youngsters and spectators present at the venue.
The championship has attracted participation from several villages, with some sending two or three teams each, reflecting considerable local enthusiasm for the tournament.
Cash Prizes for Teams and Villages
The organisers have announced cash prizes for the top four teams. The winning team will receive ₹3 lakh, while the runner-up will get ₹1.5 lakh. The third- and fourth-place teams will receive ₹1 lakh and ₹50,000, respectively.
In addition to the team prizes, the village represented by the winning team will receive ₹11 lakh, while the village of the runner-up will be awarded ₹6 lakh. The initiative is intended to encourage village-level participation and strengthen community ties through sports.
Aim to Keep Youth Away from Drugs
The championship seeks to encourage young people to stay away from drugs and channel their energy into sports and other constructive activities. Organisers said the tournament would provide a platform for budding cricketers to showcase their talent and compete at the local level.
Meet Hayer emphasised the importance of promoting a sporting culture and creating better opportunities for young people to participate in sports.
The presence of well-known personalities also added to the excitement surrounding the opening, with the organisers expressing their intention to hold the championship annually and expand it in the coming years.
Barnala Mayor Hassan Bhardwaj was also among those associated with the event.
The participation of nearly 90 teams and the involvement of personalities from different fields marked an energetic start to the championship, placing the focus on youth engagement, grassroots sports and community participation.