Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday reviewed the preparedness for the Sub-Junior National Badminton Championship scheduled to be held at the historic Raizada Hansraj Stadium in Jalandhar in December this year.
During his visit, the Chief Minister announced a special grant of ₹2.14 crore for the construction of a state-of-the-art indoor badminton hall, reaffirming the Punjab Government’s commitment to strengthening sports infrastructure and promoting sporting excellence across the state.
During this, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that after nearly 44 years, the National Badminton Championship is returning to the historic Raizada Hansraj Stadium. “The championship for the Under-13 category will provide a major boost to badminton in Punjab and further strengthen the sporting culture in the state.
The Punjab Government is committed to promoting sports to channelise the boundless energy of the youth in a positive direction,” he added. The Chief Minister handed over the sanction cheque of ₹2.14 crore to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jalandhar Varjeet Singh Walia and Secretary of the Punjab Badminton Association Ritin Khanna for the construction of the new indoor badminton hall.
“It is the first time in nearly six decades that a sitting Chief Minister has visited this iconic stadium, which has produced several outstanding badminton players,” he noted. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The Public Works Department will execute this project, and the tender process will begin shortly.
Construction is expected to commence in August. The existing four outdoor multipurpose courts will be converted into a world-class indoor badminton facility equipped with international-standard infrastructure.” The Chief Minister said that once completed, the Raizada Hansraj Stadium will have a total of 10 indoor badminton courts, making it the only venue in Punjab with such a large indoor badminton complex and one of the premier badminton centres in North India.
He said, “This upgraded infrastructure will significantly strengthen Punjab’s capacity to host prestigious national and international badminton tournaments. The stadium has been selected to host the Sub-Junior National Badminton Championship in December this year, which will be the first National Badminton Championship to be organised here in nearly four decades.”
During his visit, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann interacted with players, coaches and sports officials and reviewed the existing sports infrastructure at the stadium. He assured the badminton fraternity that the Punjab Government would extend every possible support for the successful organisation of the championship and continue investing in the development of sports infrastructure across the state.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab has produced several legendary sportspersons and has shared a deep connection with sports for centuries. CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Our revered Sikh Gurus promoted not only spirituality but also physical fitness through sports.
Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji established a Mall Akhara at Khadur Sahib and personally supervised wrestling and physical training, while Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib trained youth in horse riding and archery. Dashmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji mastered every form of sport and martial art of his time.
Even today, Punjab proudly showcases its rich sporting traditions through the traditional games organised during Hola Mohalla at Sri Anandpur Sahib.” The Chief Minister said, “The Punjab Government’s sustained investment in sports infrastructure and athlete development has already started yielding encouraging results, with several players from the state earning places at higher levels of competition.”
He reiterated that the government will continue making every effort to promote sports and create world-class facilities for the youth of Punjab.