Ludhiana, 19 May 2025:
In a powerful and thought-provoking panel discussion held under the banner of Khed Bharati Punjab, four eminent personalities from the Indian sports ecosystem came together to deliberate on the theme:
“Beyond Medals: Building a Sporting Culture Rooted in Discipline, Health, and National Pride.”
The discussion featured a stellar panel of dignitaries whose life-long dedication to sports development added tremendous value to the session:
- Padmashri Sh. Premchand Degra ji, the legendary bodybuilder who brought glory to the nation by winning the coveted Mr. Universe title in 1988, set the tone by emphasizing the role of discipline, natural training, and fitness as a lifestyle. He also spoke strongly against the rising trend of performance-enhancing drugs among youth and called for returning to the basics of clean sports.
- Dronacharya Awardee Sh. Shiv Singh ji, former head coach of the Indian national boxing teams (men and women) across multiple Olympics and Asian Games, shared invaluable insights into grassroots athlete development, coaching ethics, and the importance of psychological resilience in building champions. He also called for more support to athletes at the training stage, not just during medal celebrations.
- Sh. I. P. Nagi ji, ex-Director of the prestigious Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, stressed the need for institutional reform, structured physical education in schools, and integrating sports into mainstream education. He urged for a multi-stakeholder approach, including government, industry, educators, and NGOs, to make sports a cultural priority in India.
- Sh. Arvind Singh Rana ji, respected sports equipment manufacturer and State President of Khed Bharati Punjab, highlighted the critical gaps in sports infrastructure, especially in semi-urban and rural areas. He focused on affordability and accessibility of equipment, stressing how Indian-made sports goods, especially from hubs like Jalandhar, have the potential to democratize sports in the country. He also underlined Khed Bharati’s mission to open affordable Khed Kendras and affiliate sports clubs across Punjab to encourage youth participation and a drug-free lifestyle.
The discussion collectively emphasized that sports is not just about winning medals but about building character, health, and national consciousness. The panellists called for a long-term vision to embed sports culture into everyday Indian life — not as a luxury, but as a necessity.
This dialogue, rooted in experience and vision, reaffirmed Khed Bharati Punjab’s ongoing commitment towards youth empowerment, traditional sports revival, and the fight against drug abuse under its campaign “Mission Zindagi: Nasha Ton Azadi”.
