THE HARYANA GOVERNMENT will honour 198 athletes with cash awards worth a total of ₹20.59 crore in recognition of their achievements at international and national competitions.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will present the awards at a state-level ceremony in Panchkula, reinforcing Haryana’s reputation as one of India’s leading sporting states. The award distribution ceremony is scheduled to take place at the auditorium of the Public Works Rest House in Panchkula, with Chief Minister Saini attending as the chief guest alongside Haryana Minister of State for Sports Gaurav Gautam. The cash incentives will be transferred directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
According to the state government, 117 athletes who excelled at world-level competitions will receive cash awards amounting to ₹13.75 crore. In addition, three medallists from the 2022 Para Asian Games will be awarded a combined ₹2.32 crore, while 78 athletes who performed at national-level competitions will receive ₹4.52 crore.
Haryana has long been regarded as India’s most successful sporting state in terms of Olympic and international medal production. The government has consistently supported athletes through one of the country’s most comprehensive sports policies, which includes cash rewards, government jobs, scholarships, sports nurseries and investments in infrastructure. Recent budget announcements also outlined plans for new stadiums, synthetic athletic tracks, Khelo India Mini Centres and a talent identification programme under the Mission Olympics 2036 initiative.
The latest awards follow several other initiatives by the state government to promote sport, including nutrition allowances for young athletes training in sports nurseries and continued investment in grassroots development. Haryana has also set an ambitious target of helping Indian athletes win 36 medals at the 2036 Olympic Games, underscoring its long-term commitment to elite sports development.
