Punjab’s Purewal Games open with wrestling and athletics

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The North News

Chandigarh, February 27

The 28th edition of the Purewal Games, often referred to as the “Olympics of Doaba,” began in Hakimpur, Nawanshahr, on Tuesday. The long-running sports event, organised by the Purewal brothers and the Purewal Sports Club, kicked off at the Niranjan Singh Memorial Stadium with competitions in kabaddi, wrestling, and athletics.

However, persistent rain forced organisers to move the wrestling contests to the indoor multipurpose hall of Amardeep Shergill Memorial College in Mukandpur. The event features high-stakes wrestling matches, including the Punjab Kumar, Satar-e-Hind, and Mahabharat Kumari titles, drawing competitors from across India, as well as Canada and Iran. Seven wrestling titles, with cash prizes worth lakhs of rupees, are up for grabs.

Due to the weather, the all-open kabaddi competition was postponed, with a new date to be announced later. Earlier in the day, the games were inaugurated by Punjab Warehouse Corporation Chairman and Banga MLA Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation Vice Chairman Kuljit Singh Sarhal, and AAP leader Harjot Kaur Lohtian.

Dr. Sukhi praised the Purewal family’s contribution to sports development, stating that their efforts would help Punjab reclaim its status as a leading sporting state. Sarhal highlighted the Punjab government’s new sports policy, introduced under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, aimed at elevating the state’s sports infrastructure and talent.

Chief organiser Gurjit Singh Purewal announced that winners would receive trophies, almonds, and significant cash prizes. The morning session saw kabaddi matches in the under-15, under-17, and under-21 categories at Jagatpur Stadium, along with athletics events in 100m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m races.