Karnataka has nearly tripled its cash award for Asian Games gold medallists from ₹ 35 lakh to ₹ 1 crore, while raising silver medal award from ₹ 25 lakh to ₹ 75 lakh and bronze from ₹ 15 lakh to ₹ 50 lakh.
The measures follow concerns raised by Poovamma after the Asian Games.
She had said there was no congratulatory message or call from the Karnataka government after her medal winning performances and questioned the relatively low financial support offered by the state compared with other states.
Punya won gold in an individual event and bronze as part of the rowing team. Qualifying to compete at the international level is itself a major achievement. The government has listed rowing medallists Altaf Mohammed CK and Punya M Arth among the athletes eligible for cash awards. The government has also decided to provide Group C and D employment opportunities to Asian Games medallists. A special committee headed by the Chief Secretary will oversee the implementation of the decision.
The decision is part of a wider set of measures that includes government employment opportunities for Asian Games medallists and a 2% reservation for outstanding sportspersons in direct recruitment to Group A, B, C and D government posts. “In addition to cash rewards, each of the eight medallists will receive ₹ 5 lakh as a participation incentive for competing at the Asia Games 2026. There were 20 Karnataka athletes who qualified for the Asian Games. They will be rewarded with ₹ 5 lakh each. Sailor Sreedhar M V also won an individual gold medal and will receive ₹ 1 crore. The state has separately sanctioned a 2% reservation for outstanding sportspersons in direct recruitment to Group A, B, C and D government posts through an order issued on October 3.
The decision has therefore been taken to encourage not only medal winners but every Karnataka athlete who represented the state at the Games,” Parameshwara said.
Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, who also holds the Youth Empowerment and Sports portfolio, said the participation incentive was intended to recognise athletes who reached the international stage. Parameshwara said the employment measures were intended to provide athletes with career security after their sporting careers.
