Shimla: Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday announced cash awards totalling around Rs 5.3 crore for Himachal Pradesh sportspersons who won medals at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, recognising their performances and contribution to bringing laurels to the state.Under the Himachal Pradesh Sports Council Cash Award Rules, 2024, four members of the gold medal-winning Indian women’s kabaddi team, Pushpa Rana, Ritu Negi, Jyoti Thakur and Bhavna Thakur, will receive Rs 33.33 lakh each. The four will collectively get around Rs 1.33 crore, with the award calculated according to their participation in the 12-member squad.Mandi’s Sawan Barwal will receive Rs 2.50 crore for winning silver in the men’s marathon, while Seema Kumari of Chamba will be awarded Rs 1.50 crore for her bronze in the women’s 10,000m.Congratulating the athletes, their families, coaches and support staff, Sukhu said their dedication, discipline and determination had brought pride to Himachal and would inspire more youngsters to pursue sports at the national and international levels.Sukhu said the state govt had substantially enhanced incentives for sportspersons. Gold medallists at the Olympics, Winter Olympics and Paralympics now receive Rs 5 crore, while Asian Games gold medallists get Rs 4 crore. Silver and bronze medallists at the Asian Games receive Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 1.5 crore, respectively.He said sportspersons received Rs 17.44 crore in prize money in 2024, while 99 athletes had secured govt jobs under the 3% sports quota.The govt has also enhanced diet and travel allowances. Athletes travelling outside the state for distances of up to 200 km are eligible for AC 3-tier train fare, while those travelling beyond 200 km can avail of economy-class airfare.
