Himachal Pradesh Gives Sports Top Priority, Youth Being Positively Channelised: CM Sukhu.
From Grassroots to Global: State ramps up infrastructure, incentives and career security for sportspersons.
Shimla:
The Himachal Pradesh Government has accorded top priority to the promotion of sports by strengthening infrastructure and substantially enhancing incentives for sportspersons, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday. Addressing the issue, he stated that the State is making significant investments in modern sports facilities while offering improved prize money, higher diet allowances and assured employment opportunities to encourage youth to pursue sports as a professional career.
The Chief Minister said these initiatives were helping to channelise the immense energy of young people in a positive direction, promoting fitness and discipline while steering them away from social evils. He added that improved incentives and long-term career security were motivating talented players to take up sports as a full-time profession.
Highlighting a clear departure from the past, CM Sukhu said that the present State Government was promoting sports activities on a large scale, unlike the previous regime which, he alleged, had neglected the sector. He informed that a fixed three per cent sports quota has been provided in government employment for outstanding sportspersons, under which 99 players have been given government jobs since 2024.
To strengthen youth engagement at the grassroots level, the Chief Minister said youth volunteers have been appointed in 68 block-level nodal youth clubs, with one volunteer also posted at each district headquarters. He added that over Rs. 3.2 crore was spent on youth and sports activities in 2024, while Rs. 4 crore is being spent during the current financial year. Special emphasis, he said, is being laid on the construction and maintenance of playgrounds and modern sports infrastructure across the State.
Giving details of major infrastructure projects, CM Sukhu said that an Indoor Multipurpose Sports Complex is being constructed at Nadaun over an area of about 9,735 square metres at an estimated cost of Rs. 112.49 crore. The complex will include a shooting range, swimming pool, gymnasium, multipurpose hall for wrestling, boxing and kabaddi, yoga hall, table tennis facilities, four badminton courts, volleyball and tennis courts, along with essential supporting facilities such as a cafeteria, waiting lounge and office spaces.
The Chief Minister termed the recent enhancement in prize money as historic. He said that gold medal winners at the Olympics, Winter Olympics and Paralympics will now receive Rs. 5 crore, silver medalists Rs. 3 crore and bronze medalists Rs. 2 crore, compared to the earlier amounts of Rs. 3 crore, Rs. 2 crore and Rs. 1 crore respectively.
For the Asian Games and Para Asian Games, prize money has been increased from Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 4 crore for gold, from Rs. 30 lakh to Rs. 2.50 crore for silver, and from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 1.50 crore for bronze medalists. Similarly, for the Commonwealth Games and Para Commonwealth Games, gold medalists will now receive Rs. 3 crore instead of Rs. 50 lakh, silver medalists Rs. 2 crore instead of Rs. 30 lakh, and bronze medalists Rs. 1 crore instead of Rs. 20 lakh.
CM Sukhu said that diet money for players has also been significantly increased. Athletes participating in competitions outside the State will now receive Rs. 500 per day instead of Rs. 400. Under-17 and Under-19 players will get Rs. 400 and Rs. 500 per day respectively, compared to Rs. 150 and Rs. 250 earlier. For Under-14 players, the allowance has been enhanced to Rs. 250 and Rs. 400. Sportspersons residing in sports hostels will now receive Rs. 400 per day instead of Rs. 150.
The Chief Minister lauded the outstanding contribution of daughters of Himachal Pradesh in the sports arena, stating that girls from the State were “breaking barriers” and bringing laurels at national and international levels. He praised Renuka Thakur for becoming the first Indian woman bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the Women’s T20 World Cup, calling it a reflection of determination and excellence.
He also highlighted India’s gold medal victory in the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025 held in Dhaka, noting the exemplary role played by Himachal players including captain Ritu Negi, vice-captain Pushpa Rana, Sakshi Sharma, Bhawna and Champa. Individual achievements were also acknowledged, including Seema from Chamba district, who won gold in the 25,000-metre race at the National Athletics Championship, and Jyotika Datta from Rohru, who secured a silver medal in fencing at the same championship.
With robust infrastructure, enhanced incentives and unwavering government support, the Chief Minister said Himachal Pradesh is nurturing a new generation of champions. The State’s youth are being empowered to excel, break barriers and bring glory at national and international platforms, truly taking sports in Himachal “from grassroots to global,” he added.
