In a groundbreaking decision, the Delhi government has announced a massive hike in the cash rewards under the Mukhyamantri Khel Protsahan Yojana (Chief Minister's Sports Promotion Scheme) for athletes winning medals at the Olympics and Paralympics. From now on, athletes who win gold medals at the Olympic or Paralympic Games will be awarded a cash prize of ₹7 crore, up from the previous ₹2.5 crore.
Alongside this, silver medal winners will receive ₹5 crore, and bronze medalists will get ₹3 crore. But the rewards don't stop there. The government has also announced direct recruitment into government jobs gold and silver medal winners will be eligible for Group A posts, while bronze medalists will be offered Group B posts under the Delhi administration.
The scheme isn’t limited to elite professional athletes. Promising student athletes in schools and colleges will also benefit. Students who show sports talent at the school level will receive up to ₹5 lakh per year in training assistance. Those competing at national or international levels can receive up to ₹20 lakh annually.
Moreover, in an effort to bridge the digital divide in education, the Delhi government announced that 1,200 top-performing students of Class 10 will be gifted Intel i7 laptops. Additionally, the state plans to set up 100,000 ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Labs across schools.
This bold move by the Delhi government sends a clear message sports is not just a pastime; it is a career. With financial stability and the assurance of a government job, parents and athletes alike will now view sports as a secure and promising future path.
Experts believe this decision could be a game-changer in Indian sports, and may prompt other states to follow suit with similarly ambitious reward schemes.
Delhi's announcement is not just about money. It is a salute to the hard work, discipline, and determination of athletes who make the nation proud. By standing firmly behind these champions financially and professionally the Delhi government has set a powerful example that could redefine the future of sports in India.
