*Asian Hockey Champions Trophy Semi-Finals and Final to Be Held in Mohali on November 4 and 5*
*Mohali Mayor Appeals to People to Turn Up in Large Numbers at the Stadium to Cheer the Players; Entry Will Be Completely Free*
*Results of ‘Khed Kranti’ Begin to Show in Punjab; Mann Government Distributed ₹135 Crore in Cash Awards to 40,000 Players: Sarabjit Singh*
Mohali, October 21
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab leader and Mayor of Mohali Sarabjit Singh, issuing a media statement today, said that Punjab hosting the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time was a matter of great pride for the entire state. He said that it was due to the personal efforts of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann that Punjab had received this historic opportunity to host this prestigious international hockey tournament. This would give a major boost to hockey and other sports in the state and inspire more young people to take up sports.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Mayor Sarabjit Singh said that the league matches of the tournament would be played in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2. Following this, the semi-finals, final and third-place match would be held in Mohali on November 4 and 5. Six of Asia’s leading teams, India, Bangladesh, Japan, China, Malaysia and South Korea, are participating in this prestigious tournament. These matches will further strengthen Punjab’s presence on the international sporting map.
He said that the government had allocated a budget of approximately ₹25 crore to prepare the sports stadiums according to international standards. Of this amount, ₹16 crore was being spent on the renovation and upgradation of stadiums in Jalandhar, while approximately ₹8.90 crore was being spent on stadiums in Mohali. This investment would prove to be a milestone in strengthening the state’s sports infrastructure.
The Mayor further said that meaningful results were now emerging from ‘Khed Kranti’, launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. So far, the state government has distributed cash awards worth approximately ₹135 crore to around 40,000 players. In addition, new stadiums were being built across Punjab. In Mohali alone, around 32 stadiums were under construction, providing local players with better training facilities and ample opportunities to hone their talent.
Sarabjit Singh said that promoting sports was not just the responsibility of the government but a collective duty of society as a whole. He appealed to all Punjabis to turn up in large numbers at the stadiums to cheer the players. He said that entry to the stadiums would be completely free for spectators throughout the tournament.
He also encouraged parents to involve their children in sports alongside their studies. He reiterated that the Mann government was committed to connecting Punjab with a sporting culture and guiding the youth towards the right direction.
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