Punjab State Games from February 28

The much delayed Punjab State Games will finally begin on February 28. The seven-day event will end on March 6.

Other than a glitzy opening ceremony in Ludhiana and a closing ceremony in Jalandhar,where Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is likely to perform,hundreds of players stand to win over Rs 2.1 crore in prize money. The state games have been revived by the government after decades. Director Sports Pargat Singh said there would be ten games for which matches would be held at various stadia across Punjab. These include hockey,football,basketball,shooting,wrestling,boxing,athletics,weightlifting,volleyball and kabaddi.

“The most popular games of the state have been chosen and teams are being selected at the district levels. District sports associations,as also the district sports officers,are involved in the process of selecting the teams,” he said. Rs 21 lakh has been set aside for each game. Each of the gold,silver and bronze medal winners in each category will be given Rs 1 lakh each as cash reward.

The state games were to be held last year but were postponed for early January,only to be put off again due to the National Games.