Punjab’s district athletics programme will bring together athletes from U-14 to 70-plus, with events ranging from kids’ javelin to 10,000m race walking.
Athletics in Punjab is set to become more inclusive.
The district-level Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan 2026 competition will feature athletics across nine age groups.
The programme will cater to athletes from under-14 competitors to those aged 70 and above.
The athletics events will be held from September 20 to 30.
The programme includes track events, jumps, throws, hurdles and race walking for both men and women.
U-14 Athletes Begin with Basic Events
For U-14 athletes, the focus will be on shorter and development-focused events.
The programme includes the 60m and 600m, long jump, high jump, shot put and kids’ javelin.
U-17 Programme Expands
The U-17 category features a much wider range of events.
Athletes can compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m.
The field events include long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw.
The category also features hurdles and 3000m race walk.
U-21 Moves Towards Senior Athletics
The U-21 category moves firmly towards senior-style athletics.
The programme ranges from the 100m to 5000m.
It also includes 5000m race walk, jumps, throws and hurdles.
For athletes aged 21-30, the programme becomes even broader.
Men will have the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m, along with the 10,000m race walk.
Women will have races up to the 5000m, along with the 5000m race walk.
Both categories will also feature jumps, throws and hurdles.
Veterans Get Their Own Competition
Athletics does not stop at 30.
The 31-40 category includes sprints, middle-distance races, 5000m race walk, jumps and throws.
The programme then moves into four veteran age groups.
Athletes aged 41-50, 51-60, 61-70 and 70-plus can compete in events including the 100m, 400m and 800m, long jump, shot put, javelin and discus.
The implements become lighter in the older categories.
That means a 70-plus athlete could line up for the 100m while an U-14 athlete prepares for the 60m.
Both can compete as part of the same district athletics programme.
Schools, Villages and Academies Can Participate
The competition is open to athletes from schools, villages, registered youth clubs, academies and cities.
Each athlete can compete in only one age group.
They can also enter a maximum of two athletics events.
Talent Identification Included
The programme also has a talent-identification component.
Results and lists of athletes finishing in the top positions in the U-14 and U-17 categories are to be prepared for talent identification.
For Punjab’s athletics ecosystem, the biggest feature may be the sheer breadth of the competition.
Nine age groups. Track, field and race walking. Children, senior athletes and veterans.
The district championships are set to create a competition where athletes across generations can take part in the same athletics programme.