Jalandhar, June 12 -- Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday laid foundation stone for the Burlton Park Sports Hub- a Rs.78 crore complex to come up in Jalandhar. Mann said Burlton Park will be renamed after a legendary Punjabi athlete, shedding its colonial legacy. Under the project, new infrastructure for various sports, along with improving existing facilities, will be developed. This will include outdoor facilities such as cricket stadium, astroturf hockey ground and a natural grass football ground, each with separate pavilion areas. It also includes multipurpose indoor facilities for multiple disciplines and other allied facilities such as yoga shed, skating rink and cycle and jogging tracks. Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal termed it a "historic day" for Punjab as it will pave the way for a new beginning. "Operation bulldozer broke the drug network across the Punjab and now, sports will build the future," Kejriwal said. He said the initiative will provide thousands of people with opportunities to engage in sports and maintain a healthy lifestyle. "To be completed within a year, this will be the first-of-its-kind sports complex in the country," he said. Kejriwal emphasised that Punjab was once a leader in multiple fields, including sports, but regressive policies by traditional political parties caused its decline. "The upgrade of Burlton Park is a strategic move under the anti-drug campaign. Modern stadiums will soon be established at every village to steer youngsters away from drugs," he added. Mann highlighted Jalandhar's legacy of producing exceptional athletes who have brought international acclaim to the country, particularly in hockey."With three generations of athletes having emerged from Jalandhar, the political mismanagement over the years caused Punjab to fall behind in sports," he said.Mann stressed that the state's "lost glory" in athletics will be restored through "committed and strategic" efforts. "Reviving sports is a central pillar of the war on drugs as it aims to channel the youth's energy into positive avenues," he said. He said international cricket stadiums will soon be developed in Jalandhar and Amritsar. Mann and Kejriwal flagged off a shipment of 25,000 rugby balls destined for matches in the prestigious 2025 women's world cup.Speaking on the occasion, they expressed pride in being at India's sports manufacturing hub-Jalandhar....