Punjab Games open to empty stands,overcast sky

As the gathering awaited arrival of the chief guest of the show,Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal,the show which promised to be a cultural extravaganza opened with singer Harbhajan Mann regaling the audience with his hit numbers like jag jeondean de mele,ajj sajna dee aye hai and others. Mann was pushed up the ladder of performers ahead of the laser show and the NZCC shows.

As per the schedule prepared by the organisers,Mann was to perform later in the evening. After Mann,it was the turn of comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi who began his act with a speech on ill effects of drugs and Punjabian dee shaan.

The mega show began bang on time with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal flanked by actor Akshay Kumar arriving at the stadium around 7.30 pm. Akshay Kumar remained the main attraction of the function. More than the DCM,it was Kumar who drew cheers and waves from the passing teams each time he stood up from his seat to welcome them.

The teams passed by the dais of the guests in alphabetical order with Amritsar district leading the march past and the host team,Ludhiana,ending the impressive show of sportspersons.

Addressing the gathering,Badal said,“These games are my passion and I have institutionalised the arrangement that these games become an annual feature in the sports calendar of the state. The main objective of these games is to wean away the youth from drugs as well as a sedentary way of life by encouraging them to join sports as a movement. He hoped that over the years,these prestigious state-level games would attract more and more youth of the state into sports,curbing the menace of drugs among them.”

He said the “tournament would prepare the youth to compete with confidence even at the national and international levels,besides helping the State Sports Authorities to select sportspersons scientifically.”

The DCM announced that the state government had finalised a policy in the last Cabinet meeting that the more talented among sportsmen would get an opportunity to secure employment in government / semi government organizations The evening witnessed a laser show,shows put up by gatka artists,jugglers,performances by Sukhwinder Singh,Akshay Kumar and a folk show arranged by artistes of NZCC.