Punjab’s sporting talent is not limited to historical achievements alone; a new generation is ready to carry the legacy forward. Young athletes, rising from village paths to international arenas, are reshaping the future of sports in the state through their hard work, passion, and talent.
On National Sports Day—celebrated annually on August 29th to honor the ‘Wizard of Hockey,’ Major Dhyan Chand—we highlight young athletes whose performances signal a bright future for Punjab’s sports fraternity. They have carved a niche for themselves across various disciplines, from racquet sports and cricket to swimming, hockey, and basketball. **Medals Shine Through Manya’s Racquet:** Manya Rahalhan, a young badminton player from Jalandhar, is gaining international recognition for her outstanding achievements. A student at Lovely Professional University and a player with the Russian Badminton Academy, Manya demonstrated her talent by winning a bronze medal at the State Tennis International Challenge.
She has also secured bronze medals at the National Games and the Senior National Championship, while winning gold at the School National Games. She holds the country’s number-one rank in Junior All-India Mixed Doubles and the second spot in Girls’ Doubles. Manya, who recently won gold in both Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles at a state-ranking tournament, has held the title of State Champion for years.
**Arjun Dons the Indian Team Jersey:** Arjun Rajput from Jalandhar has been selected for the Indian Under-19 cricket team. Playing for Punjab, he scored a magnificent century (121 runs) against Saurashtra in the Cooch Behar Trophy.
Arjun, who considers former player Bhupinder Singh his role model, has also captained the Punjab Under-16 team. He played impressive innings of 60 and 101 runs during matches at the High-Performance Camp in Bengaluru. He also scored four half-centuries during the Vijay Merchant Trophy. Ojas is making history with his speed: Ojas Sood from Ludhiana has carved a niche for himself in national swimming at a young age. He recently made history by winning three medals at the 52nd Junior National Aquatic Championship held in Bhubaneswar.
Ojas won silver medals in the 50m and 100m freestyle events and a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke. This marked the first time a swimmer from Punjab secured three medals in a national swimming competition. Under the guidance of coach Madhav Sood, Ojas is now preparing to represent India at the international level.
Prince Deep is bringing glory to the sport on the hockey field: Hailing from the village of Paunan (near Parota in Pathankot), 22-year-old Prince Deep Singh has risen from a farming family to make a name for himself on the hockey field. Passionate about hockey since childhood, Prince would practice regularly on the village ground after his studies.
His father, Balwinder Singh, works as a laborer, and the family lives in a joint family setup. Discipline and regular practice honed his game and brought honor to the district.
Sahnoor’s journey from village to Asia: 16-year-old Sahnoor Bawa, from Khadial village in Dirba (Sangrur), has achieved success through her talent and hard work. She brought laurels to the country and Punjab by winning a gold medal in the relay race at the Under-20 Asian Athletics Championship held in Hong Kong.
Coming from a modest family, Sahnoor had a deep interest in sports from childhood. Despite limited facilities, she persisted with her training and hard work. Coach Jaspreet Singh recognized her talent, groomed her, and played a pivotal role in molding her into an international-level athlete.
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Jaipreet is delivering a powerful performance on the basketball court: Jaipreet Singh Sidhu of the Ludhiana Basketball Academy is putting up an impressive performance on the basketball court. Japreet represented the Indian team at the recently concluded Under-18 Asia Cup Basketball Championship.
Prior to this, he was a member of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the Sub-Under-18 Championship held in Sri Lanka. Originally hailing from Ratta, Japreet honed his skills by training at the Ludhiana Academy.
Little Fateh Singh’s soaring spirit: At an age when children are typically interested in chocolates, ice cream, and toys, five-year-old Fateh Singh from Amritsar is emerging as a beacon of hope for Punjab’s sporting future by performing *Gatka* on skates. He won a gold medal by performing *Gatka* on skates at the World Martial Arts Games 2026 held in Pattaya, Thailand, bringing glory to the nation on the international stage.
A student of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Fateh practices for about two hours each in the morning and evening. Observing his excellent balance and coordination of limbs while skating, his family decided to enroll him in *Gatka* training.
