Popularly known as ‘Rural Olympics’, the annual rural event this year will see the country’s top athletes in action. India's fastest 100-metre runner Vishal Saxena, 800-metre national champion Gharaunda Ram and India's 4X 100 metres Olympic women relay team member Harwant Kaur will be among the top stars participating the three-day event. Apart from this, country's top hockey teams, including star-packed Punjab Police and BSF will also participate in the annual event. Among other teams, four basketball teams from the state have also confirmed their participation in the tournament.

The rural festival attracts participants from all over Punjab as well as other states. The sports festival was started in 1933 by farmers in the adjoining areas and has seen the participation from competitors from all age groups. Addressing a press conference at Chandigarh Press Club on Tuesday, Sukhvir Singh Grewal said Grewal Sports Association would distribute prize money worth Rs eight lakh approximately during the annual event. “This year the prize money for each event has been hiked to Rs 5,000 for the winner and Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 for the first and second runner-up.,” said Grewal. He further added that more than 5,000 sportspersons, both in Olympic and traditional style will take part in the annual event which will be watched by over four lakh spectators over the three days. Apart from Indian media, a number of foreign television companies would also cover the three-day bonanza which also includes the famed bullock-cart race. The race has been a constant feature of the event and is rated highly by the spectators.

One of the main sponsors of the sports festival has been Relay Worldwide. “Our company is happy to be associated with the biggest rural sports festival in the region,” said Mahesh Ranka, general manager, Relay Worldwide.