Centres of Excellence in Punjab to Groom 6000 Sports Persons

- An annual budget of Rs.50 crores allotted to Punjab institute of Sports for the training of sports persons

- Punjab was the first state in the country to have dedicated sports fund for promotion of sports. Plans to increase the budget to Rs.100 crores

Punjabis are known for their resilience and hard work and have shown exemplary work in the field of sports.  To further improve upon the capabilities of Punjabis by tapping and training the talent at the right time, Punjab Government has established Punjab Institute of Sports (PIS). Under PIS there are Centres of Excellence for 12 identified games. Around 6000 sports persons from 14 years of age and onwards will be identified from all over the state and will be trained in these Centres of Excellence created in different parts of the State. 

The admitted players would be provided free boarding and lodging at the centres, arrangements will be made for their proper education and scientific training under expert Indian & foreign coaches. PIS will have a budget of Rs. 50 crore annually. During the first trials over 20,000 students were tested. 

Deputy CM Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal informed that with an aim to promote sports at grass roots level the Punjab Government is contemplating on a proposal to make sports education a mandatory subject at school level to give impetus to sports activities among the students. He said there would be no dearth of funds for the players and sports events as Punjab was the first state in the country to have dedicated sports fund for promotion of sports, which will increased to Rs.100 crores.

To strengthen the sports infrastructure stadiums, multipurpose stadiums at all district headquaters have been built or upgraded or are being built at a cost of Rs. 320 crore.  Punjab Government had set up 10 multipurpose stadiums and six hockey stadiums with astroturf. Out of the three world-class astroturfs in India, two are in Punjab.

To motivate the players, Punjab Government also recently awarded international and national players with cash prizes. Sports icons like Heena Sidhu in shooting was awarded with cash prize of Rs.23 lakh, Prabhjot Bajwa (gymnastics) Rs.22 lakh, Manavjit Sidhu (shooting) Rs.17 lakh, Ranjan Sodhi (shooting) Rs.15 lakh, Manpreet Singh Rs.14 lakh and Harveen Sarao with Rs.10 lakh.

Besides, Mukesh Kumar and Poonam in table tennis were conferred Rs.14 lakh each, Gurbaj Singh (cycling) with Rs.13.85 lakh, Navjit Kaur (athletics) Rs.9 lakh, Swaran Singh (rowing) Rs.5 lakh.

Punjab government has also been strictly implementing the 3 percent quota for sportspersons in government jobs and 10 Category “A” posts had been created for those players who had excelled at international level. Recently 10 sportspersons were appointed as Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) too.