10 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Kabaddi and kho-kho competitions were among the major attractions on the second day of the block-level competitions of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ Season 4 in Amritsar district.
The sporting event is being conducted across multiple blocks, with young athletes competing in different disciplines as Punjab’s annual sports programme expands its reach across age groups.
Seven Sports at Block Level
The block-level competitions in Amritsar include athletics, football, kabaddi in national and circle styles, volleyball smashing, volleyball shooting and kho-kho.
The first phase of competitions is being held from September 8 to 11, while the broader block-level programme will continue through September 18.
Young Players Take Centre Stage
Competitions are being organised separately for boys and girls across several age categories.
The programme includes participants from under-14, under-17 and under-21 categories, along with adult age groups extending up to participants aged above 70. This wide age structure allows both emerging athletes and older sportspersons to participate.
Recent competitions in Amritsar have already produced winners in kabaddi. At the Verka block, Baba Deep Singh Sports Club won the under-14 girls’ national-style kabaddi competition, while Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Club Mananwala finished first in the under-14 boys’ circle-style kabaddi event.
Focus on Grassroots Sports
The games are designed to identify sporting talent at the grassroots level and provide athletes with opportunities to progress to higher levels of competition.
Officials have been urging sports organisations, local representatives and young people to participate actively and encourage maximum registration.
District-Level Competitions Next
After the block-level contests, district-level competitions are scheduled from September 20 to 30.
The district stage will include the winners from the seven block-level disciplines along with 21 additional sports, taking the total number of sports at that stage to 28. These include hockey, badminton, basketball, wrestling, swimming, boxing, shooting, fencing, archery and other disciplines.
State-Level Games to Expand Further
The state-level competitions are scheduled from October 10 to November 23.
Ten more disciplines—including gymnastics, rowing, kayaking-canoeing, wushu, rugby, cycling, equestrian, taekwondo, baseball and karate—will be introduced at the state stage, taking the overall number of sports to 38.
Para-Sports Also Included
The fourth edition also has a dedicated para-sports component.
Competitions in para powerlifting, para badminton, wheelchair basketball and para athletics are scheduled from November 25 to 28, expanding opportunities for athletes with disabilities.
Punjab Targets 10 Lakh Participants
The Punjab Government has set an ambitious target of 10 lakh participants for the fourth edition.
Previous editions attracted up to five lakh sportspersons, making the latest target a major expansion of the programme’s participation base.
Cash Prizes and Sports Benefits
Officials said winners will receive cash prizes and grading certificates.
Participants who perform well can also become eligible for sports quota benefits under the Punjab Government’s policy, adding an incentive for young athletes to take the competitions seriously.
Building Punjab’s Sporting Culture
The state-wide programme is intended to strengthen grassroots sports participation while helping identify and nurture promising athletes.
With competitions ranging from traditional Punjab favourites such as kabaddi and kho-kho to athletics, football and volleyball, the event provides a broad platform for sporting talent across the state.