Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday, 19 August announced the fourth edition of Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan, scheduled from 5 September to 29 November, with an ambitious target of engaging more than 10 lakh participants across all age groups. The mass sporting event, described by the government as the largest edition yet, will open at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Bathinda and conclude with a closing ceremony in Patiala.

Scale and Structure of the Fourth Edition

This year's games will span 38 sports disciplines, with the addition of four para-sports — athletics, powerlifting, badminton, and wheelchair basketball. Competitions will be held at block, district, and state levels, covering all 153 blocks and all 23 districts of Punjab. State-level events will be hosted across 16 districts.

Players from nine age groups — ranging from 14 years to above 70 years — are eligible to compete, making this one of the few state-level sporting programmes to formally include senior citizens alongside youth.

What Chief Minister Mann Said

'It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that this year our target is to involve 10 lakh players. Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan is the best platform to identify, promote and nurture hidden sporting talent from every village, town and city of Punjab,' Mann told reporters.

He added that the games are designed to prepare young athletes for national and international competition. Notably, past editions have seen three generations of the same family — grandfather, son, and grandson — competing together, a feature the Chief Minister highlighted as a hallmark of the event.

New QR-Code Registration System

For the first time, the Punjab Sports Department has introduced QR-code-based registration, allowing players to sign up at any time and from any location. Registration is also available through the Sports Department's official portal and is completely free of cost. The registration process is already underway.

'I appeal to all players to register themselves and participate enthusiastically in these games,' Mann said.

Why This Edition Stands Out

The inclusion of para-sports for the first time signals a deliberate push toward inclusivity. The multi-generational participation model — now formalised across nine age brackets — sets Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan apart from conventional state sports meets that typically target only school or college-age athletes. This comes amid broader efforts by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government to position sports as a tool for youth engagement and talent identification at the grassroots level.

With the fourth edition now confirmed, all eyes will be on whether the 10 lakh participant target — a significant jump from previous editions — is met when the closing ceremony takes place in Patiala in late November.