New Delhi, August 6: Former Indian cricket team off-spinner and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh stated on Thursday that Punjab is lagging in sports while other states are progressing.
Harbhajan expressed his concerns in the Parliament complex, saying, “Sports is an area I understand well because I have played. I hope efforts will be made to improve the sports infrastructure in Punjab. For years, I have been saying that Punjab is consistently falling behind in sports, while other states have advanced. These states are also part of India, but as a Punjabi, I feel that Punjab, which was once at the forefront of sports, is now struggling mainly due to a lack of resources and infrastructure, as well as many youths moving abroad.”
He emphasized that if attention is given to the youth of Punjab, inspiring them to excel in sports and providing necessary resources, the state can produce excellent athletes and reclaim its status as a top sports state in the country.
Regarding the exodus of youth from the state, Harbhajan remarked, “Many young people have left Punjab because there have been very few industries here for years. I was born and raised here, but there aren’t enough industries to provide jobs. Youth have to go to Delhi, Mumbai, or elsewhere for work. Until now, no major company has made significant investments in Punjab. To bring the youth back to the state, extensive work is needed in industry, employment, and sports.”
On Wednesday, Harbhajan met with Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the development of sports in Punjab.
The Rajya Sabha MP mentioned that during his discussion with the Home Minister, he focused on two main issues. First, Punjab was once a leader in sports, but now there has been a significant decline, and the infrastructure is in poor condition. It seems that sports is one of the last priorities for the state government. Second, he believes that sports is one of the most effective ways to keep children away from drugs.
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