TN Govt Awards ₹2.52 Cr to 44 Para Athletes for National Achievements

Honorable Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin He provided high cash incentives amounting to Rs. 2.52 crore to 44 para-athletes who won medals in national-level sports competitions.

Honorable Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin yesterday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, at the Chennai Olympic Academy, in an event conducted by the Department of Welfare and Sports, he awarded cash incentives of Rs. 2.52 crore to 44 para-athletes who won medals in various national-level championships, including:

• The 23rd National Para Athletics Championship held from 17.02.2025 to 20.02.2025 in Chennai
• The 22nd National Para Athletics Championship held in Goa
• The National Sub-Junior, Junior, and Senior Championships for athletes with cerebral palsy held in Madhya Pradesh
• The National Para Table Tennis Championship

During the event, the Honorable Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin stated:
“Following the orders of the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the government is providing Rs. 2.52 crore in high cash incentives to 44 medal-winning athletes at the national level.

This is the third event in the last 50 days where high cash incentives are being provided. Last month, 1,014 athletes received Rs. 25 crore as high cash incentives. Similarly, previously, 148 athletes were awarded Rs. 4.35 crore as high cash incentives.

In a special upcoming event, we are delighted and proud to provide high cash incentives to even more para-athletes.

As the Minister for Sports, I wish to highlight an important request regarding para-athletes. So far, high cash incentives were given only if athletes won at international competitions. However, national-level achievements were not considered.

I have brought this issue to the attention of our Honorable Chief Minister, and he has immediately ordered that high cash incentives should be equally provided to para-athletes who win medals at national-level competitions.

In line with this, our Dravida Model Government has issued the necessary Government Order (GO)—Tamil Nadu has now become the first Indian state to officially provide high cash incentives for para-athletes winning national medals, just like other athletes.

Para-athletes from Tamil Nadu have been continuously achieving remarkable milestones. Today, we have two exceptional para-athletes among us.

• M. Madhanraj Singaraja, a para-athlete who has won numerous medals in various competitions, is present here. The Tamil Nadu government has been supporting him through the SDAT (Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu) MIMS scheme.
• Similarly, para table tennis player Ms. Hanna Ravi is also present here. She has been competing since the age of 13 and has won 35 national and international medals, including 12 gold medals.

Currently, in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings, Hanna Ravi is ranked 16th globally in the para-athlete category. She recently won four national-level para-table tennis medals, and today, she is being awarded a high cash incentive of Rs. 20 lakh.

Many para-athletes had considered quitting sports due to a lack of support. However, our government stepped in and provided necessary assistance, ensuring their continued success.

No matter which international competition you participate in, your coaches, families, and our government will always stand by you. The Tamil Nadu government is committed to supporting para-athletes like M. Madhanraj and Hanna Ravi, ensuring their continued achievements.

Your victories not only bring personal joy but also inspire many more para-athletes to take up sports. This is the greatest impact your success can have.

Under the guidance of our Honorable Chief Minister, through the Tamil Nadu Champions Foundation, financial assistance amounting to Rs. 4.55 crore has been provided today to 41 para-athletes.

With this financial aid, para-athletes have participated in various national and international competitions, securing 113 medals.

Additionally, our government has granted Rs. 19 crore as high cash incentives to 153 para-athletes in just these four events.

Thinking about the future of para-athletes in the sports sector, the government will continue to support you in every possible way…”