PUNJAB CM VOWS TO RESTORE PRISTINE GLORY OF HOCKEY IN THE STATE
RECALLS HIS LONG LOVE FOR SPORTS ESPECIALLY HOCKEY
SAYS PLAYERS FROM PUNJAB HAS REVIVED HOCKEY AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
ASSERTS THAT TWO ULTRA MODREN SPORTS COMPLEXES WILL COME UP AT JALANDHAR AND AMRITSAR
Jalandhar, September 27 (WISHAVWARTA):- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday vowed to restore the pristine glory of Hockey in the state.
Addressing the gathering during the final match of the Punjab Hockey League 2025 here today, the Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the first junior hockey league being started by Punjab hockey and round glass. He said that it is the highest prize money league ever started in Field of Hockey. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the league was inaugurated in Mohali and finals are being played in Jalandhar.
The Chief Minister said that different leagues played for seniors as this is the first ever Junior league started in India. He said that it is a momentous occasion as here at Surjit Hockey Stadium, great hockey players from Punjab, who have brought glory to the nation, have converged together. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in an exhibition match, Legend XI clashed with Star XI adding that Legend XI was led by former Indian hockey team captain Olympian Gagan Ajit Singh, who is currently SSP Malerkotla, while Star XI was led by the current Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh.
The Chief Minister said that Surjit Hockey Stadium has played a very important role in the history of Indian hockey. He said that it is also a moment of joy as players who won the 1975 Hockey World Cup and players who won the Junior World Cup in 2001 are present in this stadium. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this event brought together three generations of hockey adding that one of the biggest contribution of the state to the nation has been in hockey.
The Chief Minister said that Today is the final of Punjab Junior Hockey League and the special feature of this league was that teams from different parts of the country came to play. He said that Junior Hockey League had the highest prize money so far adding that the league started in Mohali and the final is now being played in Jalandhar, the land of Doaba. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that while many leagues have been played for seniors, this is the first-ever junior league introduced in India.
The Chief Minister said that in the Indian hockey team that recently won the Asia Cup, nine players were from Punjab adding that both of the last two Olympics where India won medals, nine players from Punjab were in the team each time. He said that Jalandhar is called the Sports Capital and the Burlton Park, Surjit Hockey Stadium, and Sports College are famous across the world. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in the Indian team that created history by winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games, four players—Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Hardik Singh, and Sukhjeet Singh—are from Jalandhar.
The Chief Minister said that the footballs, rugby balls, and other sports equipment made in Jalandhar are used in World Cups and Commonwealth Games.
He said that world’s top batsmen play with cricket bats made in Jalandhar adding that roots of sports in Punjab began in Jalandhar.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Cricketer Harbhajan Singh, born in Jalandhar, made India proud worldwide, and because of his contributions, he was nominated as a Rajya Sabha member.
The Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government is making efforts to further promote Jalandhar as hub of sports. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab Government has appointed seven players as DSPs and four players as PCS officers, among whom were nine hockey players along with one cricketer and one athlete. He also lauded the organisers for holding this prestigious event adding that he is an ardent sports lover and has kept the sports department with him so to as to give fillip to sports.
The Chief Minister said that in the coming days more than 3000 sports stadiums will be constructed in the villages of the state to give fillip to the sports. He said that Khedan Watan Punjab Dian has already played a key role in this direction adding that it has acted as catalyst to wean away youth from menace of drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Burlton Park in Jalandhar is already being developed as a sports hub and now world class sports center will be developed at Amritsar also.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat, President Hockey Punjab and Vice President Hockey India Nitin Kohli, Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal and others handed over a cheque worth Rs 50 lakh to Chief Minister as contribution in Chardi Kala Mission.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also felicitated the eminent Olympians who had represented the country during various international Hockey events.
