Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday announced cash awards of approximately ₹ 5.33 crore for medal winners from Himachal Pradesh at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, officials said.
Pushpa Rana, Ritu Negi, Jyoti Thakur and Bhavna Thakur from Himachal will receive ₹ 33.33 lakh each under the Himachal Pradesh Sports Council Cash Award Rules, 2024. They were part of the 12-member women’s kabaddi team that won the gold medal. The total award for the Himachali players in the kabaddi team will be approximately ₹ 1.33 crore, with the team award distributed based on the players’ participation, as per the rules. Sawan Barwal of Mandi will receive ₹ 2.50 crore for winning a silver medal in the men’s marathon, while Seema Kumari of Chamba will get ₹ 1.50 crore for securing a bronze in the women’s 10,000m event. He said that in 2024, sportspersons who participated in or won medals at international competitions were awarded a total of ₹ 17.44 crore. Under the 3% sports quota, 99 sportspersons have so far been provided employment.
Congratulating the medal winners, their families, coaches and support staff, the CM said that their achievements were a matter of great pride for the state and that their feat would inspire more youth to take up sports.
