Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Minister Harjot Bains inaugurates 69th National School Games in Ludhiana
Babushahi Bureau
Ludhiana (Punjab), January 6, 2026: Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Tuesday formally inaugurated the 69th National School Games at Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana, marking the beginning of a major national sporting event featuring young athletes from across the country.
The Games will be held from January 6 to January 11 and have drawn participants from all states and Union Territories, along with teams from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and Vidya Bharati schools.
Addressing the gathering, the Education Minister said that competitions during the Games will include Judo (Under-14 boys and girls), Taekwondo (Under-14 girls) and Gatka (Under-19 boys and girls).
He informed that the events will be conducted at multiple venues across Ludhiana, including BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar; Government Senior Secondary School, PAU Ludhiana; and the Open Air Theatre at PAU, Ludhiana.
Calling the event a moment of pride for Punjab and Ludhiana, Bains said nearly 1,000 sportspersons and over 350 coaches have arrived from different parts of the country, including Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Andhra Pradesh and the North Eastern states.
He added that the district administration has made comprehensive arrangements for the participants.
“Despite the cold weather, proper arrangements for accommodation, food and transportation have been ensured. PCR teams have been deployed for security, and CCTV cameras have been installed at all playgrounds,” he said.
Highlighting the state government’s focus on strengthening sports infrastructure, the Education Minister said the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is expanding sports facilities across the state.
He said construction of 3,100 playgrounds in villages and cities is underway in the first phase, with the aim of ensuring that every village in Punjab has its own sports ground.
Referring to capacity building in sports, Bains said large-scale recruitment of coaches is being carried out in sports nurseries for disciplines such as boxing, hockey and kabaddi. He added that players’ diet allowances have also been increased to help them train and perform better.
Speaking about Punjab’s sports policy, the minister said that the state provides advance financial assistance to players selected for international events such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the Olympics.
“Unlike other states where incentives are given after winning medals, Punjab supports its players in advance. Since the implementation of this policy, the medal tally of Punjab has increased,” he said.
Bains also expressed pride over the strong representation of Punjabi players in national teams, noting that the Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams and the Indian hockey team are performing exceptionally well under Punjabi captains. He said this reflects Punjab’s steady progress towards reclaiming its legacy as a leading state in sports.
The event was attended by 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, District Sports Officer Kuldeep Chugh, and senior officers from various departments.