Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
CM Mann sets target of 3-4 gold medals for Punjab at 2026 Olympics
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 29, 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said his government was focusing on strengthening the state’s sports ecosystem from village-level playgrounds to international competition, with an aim to increase Punjab’s contribution to India’s Olympic medal tally.
In a social media post, Mann said sports had been among his government’s priorities since taking office and noted that he had retained the Sports Department under the Chief Minister’s office.
Mann highlighted the participation of more than 20,000 people of different age groups in a recent marathon held in Bathinda and said similar events would be organised across Punjab in the coming months.
He said the government’s sports initiatives were intended to identify and develop talent at the grassroots level through competitions such as Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan, along with rural sports programmes.
According to Mann, the state is working on developing 3,000 modern rural playgrounds equipped with features including levelled playing fields, fencing, floodlights and jogging tracks. Sports kits for disciplines such as football, volleyball and cricket are also being provided, he said.
The Chief Minister said indoor gyms were also being established in villages, with the government planning to expand such facilities to additional villages after completing the current phase.
Mann said infrastructure alone was not enough to produce elite athletes and stressed the importance of coaches, equipment, playing opportunities and regular competitions.
He also linked sports participation with the state’s efforts to address drug abuse among young people, saying playgrounds could provide constructive avenues for youth engagement, physical activity and discipline.
Highlighting Punjab’s recent sporting record, Mann said athletes from the state won 20 medals for India at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, including eight gold, six silver and six bronze medals. He described the performance as Punjab’s strongest showing at the Asian Games.
Looking ahead to the 2036 Olympics, which India has expressed an ambition to host, Mann said he wanted Punjab to make a larger contribution to India’s medal tally. He said his target was for Punjabi athletes to win three to four gold medals for India at the Games.
Mann also said Punjab’s sporting legacy extended beyond young athletes and called on parents, teachers, coaches and communities to support children interested in sports.
The Chief Minister said the latest edition of Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan began on September 5, coinciding with Teachers’ Day, and described coaches and trainers as teachers who help develop athletes.
He said the sports programme was intended not only to promote competition but also to strengthen Punjab’s sporting culture and provide athletes from villages and towns with opportunities to compete at higher levels.
Mann concluded by saying that the state’s sports initiatives were aimed at strengthening Punjab’s contribution to India’s future Olympic achievements.