Gujarat awards Rs 9.27 crore to 18 Asian Games and Para Asian Games athletes

The Gujarat government on Monday announced cash awards totalling more than Rs 9.27 crore for 18 athletes who represented India at the Asian Games and Para Asian Games, with para-athletes among the biggest beneficiaries. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi presented the awards to medal winners and participating athletes at a felicitation ceremony in Gandhinagar, recognising their performances at international sporting events.

The Asian Games is a continental multi-sport event held every four years for athletes of Asia. The 2022 Asian Para Games, also known as Hangzhou 2022, were held for Asian athletes with disabilities in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China from 22 to 28 October 2023.

Among the recipients, para-athlete Anjanaben Rohitbhai Bumbadiya received Rs two crore for winning a gold medal at the Para Asian Games. Nimisha C.S. was awarded Rs one crore for her silver medal in long jump, while Tejalben Damor received a total of Rs 1.5 crore for winning silver and bronze medals. Rakeshbhai Bhatt was awarded Rs one crore for winning two bronze medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre races.

In para table tennis, Bhavinaben Patel received Rs 75 lakh for winning two bronze medals, while Sonalben Patel was awarded Rs 50 lakh for a bronze medal. Manush Shah, who won a bronze medal in table tennis, received Rs 25 lakh.

The Indian men's cricket team players Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel were each awarded Rs 66 lakh, while women's team cricketer Radha Yadav also received Rs 66 lakh.

The government also extended financial assistance to athletes who participated in various sporting events. Manav Thakkar received Rs 5 lakh, Harmeet Desai Rs 2.5 lakh, Aryan Nehra Rs 5 lakh, Ankita Raina Rs 2.5 lakh, Aniket Patel Rs 2.5 lakh, Mitwa Chaudhary Rs 5 lakh, Bhavikkumar Bharwad Rs 5 lakh and Vishnu Vaghela Rs 1.65 lakh.

The government said the incentive amounts for athletes who could not attend the ceremony because of sporting commitments would be disbursed separately.

Cash awards to selected athletes

Related on Apex Sports News

• Haney, Banti and Tejas Nandakumar: Samarth-backed para athletes return from Asian Para Games with four medals

• Tamil Nadu CM Vijay awards Rs 17 crore to Chief Minister’s Trophy winners and honours Para Asian Games medallists

• Haryana CM honours 132 Asian Games medallists with ₹189 crore

Sources

• NDTV Sports

• Wikipedia: Asian Games (background)

• Photo: Rafeek Manchayil, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)