Ludhiana: The stands at Kila Raipur were nearly at capacity on Wednesday as the second day of the rural games saw a significant surge in spectators. The primary draw remained the historic bullock cart races—revived after a 12-year hiatus—alongside high-energy performances by stuntmen, motorcyclists, and traditional athletes.Colonel Surinder Singh Grewal (retd), president of the Kila Raipur Sports Society, told TOI that excitement has grown and the stadium crowd was much larger on Wednesday. He added that with chief minister Bhagwant Mann set to attend the concluding day, they expect attendance to swell further. Grewal noted that during the second day of bullock cart races, nine to 10 heats of four carts each were held, with the first two carts from each heat advancing.According to the civil administration, the day captured the imagination of attendees as the historic bullock cart races—revived after a 12-year hiatus—took center stage. Spectators also supported a vibrant array of sports including hockey, kabaddi, shot put, 100-meter sprints, tug of war, long jump, and several other rural athletic disciplines, creating an atmosphere of unity and community spirit.A group of stuntmen also performed, including Jora Singh of Bhago Ke village, who along with two team members fitted themselves into a 1.25-foot diameter ring. Jora Singh, who also jumped through a ring of fire, said he learned these ancestral skills from his grandfather.Sandhwan urges youth to reconnect with their rootsSpeaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan addressed the crowd, hailing the revival of the races as a historic milestone made possible through the Punjab Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2025. He emphasised that the return of this iconic sport preserves Punjab’s heritage and steers youth away from drugs and excessive mobile use. He stressed the collective responsibility to reconnect the younger generation with authentic roots over “reel culture.“Organisers claimed there were no injuries to participating bulls or jockeys, supported by 40 society volunteers and government officials. However, two spectators had a lucky escape at the finish line after walking into the path of a racing cart; the society has repeatedly requested the public to stay clear of the track.Visitors like Amreek Singh of Samrala expressed happiness at seeing the races return after more than a decade.
