Aiming at making Punjab, a leading state in the country in sports as well as to boost the sports culture among the young generation, the endeavour of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to start second season "Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan", the Torch Relay' after crossing 12 districts, today, entered in SAS Nagar.
A rousing welcome accorded to the 'Torch Relay' on arrival in the district with performances of Bhangra and Gatka at Kurali. The second season of 'Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan' is to be launched at Bathinda by the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on August 29.
The torch Relay that started on August 22 from Ludhiana entered Mohali district from Rupnagar district today after touring 12 districts. On reaching Kurali, Rupnagar players handed over the torch to the Mohali administration.
Derabassi MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa, Dharamkot MLA Davinderjit Singh Laddi Dhose, Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain, Aam Aadmi Party Chief Spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang, Punjab Youth Development Board Chairman Parminder Singh Goldi, District Planning Board Chairperson Prabhjot Kaur and Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Mann's Father Jora Singh Mann, recieved the Torch.
After this, it was handed over to Hockey Olympian Prabhjot Singh, former Indian Hockey Captain Rajpal Singh, Olympian shooter Anjum Moudgil, Hockey Olympian Dharamveer Singh and National Shooting Coach Ankush Bhardwaj, who ran forward and handed it over to the young and budding players.
The speakers while addressing the event said that these games will fulfil the dream of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to make Punjab a leading state in sports. MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa said that the state government under the leadership of the Chief Minister is making all-out efforts in the field of sports to give a new direction to the youth of Punjab under which these games have been chalked out.
MLA Davinderjit Singh Laddi Dhose said that Punjab has given life to sports in the state by making a new sports policy and Punjab will again become the number one state in the country in sports. Aam Aadmi Party Chief Spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said that the enthusiasm being shown for sports and 'Torch Relay' shows that the youth of Punjab need to be given direction, it has immense potential.
Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain on behalf of the district administration thanked all the representatives, players and guests by referring to the new records set by the players in the history of sports and asked the young players to follow the legend sportspersons to get goal.
Punjab Youth Development Board Chairman Parminder Singh Goldy thanked everyone on behalf of the Department of Sports and Youth Services and said that aspirants of the district can register themselves on the portal www.khedanwatanpunjabdia.com to participate in these games.
He added that 35 sports competitions will be held in different eight age groups which will be from block to state level. On August 29, the day of National Sports Day at Bathinda, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will launch a statewide Season-2 of the Games.
The 'Torch Relay' halted as the second leg of the district at the Sector 78 Stadium in Mohali where the players welcomed the 'Torch' before its departure to next distric. After the participation of hundreds of players, the Torch further handed over to the district Fatehgarh Sahib on the Landra-Chunni route by District Sports Officer Gurdeep Kaur.
ADC (Urban Development) Damanjit Singh Mann, SDM Kharar Ravinder Singh, Assistant Commissioner (G) Harjot Kaur Mavi, CM Field Officer Inderpal and other sports lovers and dignitaries were present during the welcoming ceremony of the torch.