Asian Games Champions All Smiles as CM Announces ₹5.33 Crore Cash Awards
Shimla: Asian Games champions from Himachal Pradesh had another reason to smile on Monday as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced cash awards totalling approximately ₹5.33 crore for the State’s medal winners at the Asian Games-2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The biggest cheer goes to Himachal’s four-member contingent in India’s gold-winning women’s kabaddi team. Pushpa Rana, Ritu Negi, Jyoti Thakur and Bhavna Thakur will receive ₹33.33 lakh each, taking the total prize money for the four Himachali players to around ₹1.33 crore.
Mandi’s Sawan Barwal, who won silver in the men’s marathon, will receive ₹2.50 crore, while Seema Kumari of Chamba will be rewarded with ₹1.50 crore for her bronze medal in the women’s 10,000 metres.
The awards have been announced under the Himachal Pradesh Sports Council Cash Award Rules, 2024, with the kabaddi team prize distributed among participating Himachali players according to the prescribed rules.
Congratulating the medal winners, their families, coaches and support staff, Sukhu said their performance had brought pride to Himachal Pradesh and would encourage more youngsters to pursue competitive sports.
The State Government has substantially increased its sports prize money. Under the current policy, Asian Games and Para Asian Games gold medallists receive ₹4 crore, silver medallists ₹2.50 crore and bronze medallists ₹1.50 crore. Olympic, Winter Olympic and Paralympic gold medallists receive ₹5 crore, while silver and bronze medallists are entitled to ₹3 crore and ₹2 crore respectively.
The government said sportspersons who participated in or won medals at international competitions received ₹17.44 crore in prize money during 2024. So far, 99 sportspersons have also secured government employment under the three per cent sports quota.
The State has also enhanced support for athletes through diet and travel allowances. Sportspersons competing outside Himachal are entitled to ₹500 a day as diet allowance, while the rates are ₹400 at State level, ₹300 at district level and ₹240 at block level.
For travel outside the State, athletes travelling up to 200 km are eligible for AC three-tier rail fare, while those travelling beyond 200 km can avail economy-class airfare.
The Asian Games medal haul has put Himachal’s sporting talent in the spotlight, with the government hoping that the rewards will inspire a fresh generation of athletes to aim for national and international honours.
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