Sukhu Promises World-Class Sports Facilities, Outlines Mega Cash Rewards

Hamirpur : Himachal Pradesh Chief minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the state government is fully committed to providing world-class facilities and top-tier infrastructure to talented sportspersons.  

Interacting with budding athletes and young trainees at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre of Excellence in Anu, the Chief Minister highlighted several transformative initiatives aimed at elevating the state’s sports ecosystem. He announced that a state-of-the-art indoor stadium is currently under construction in Nadaun at an estimated cost of Rs 125 crore. Scheduled to open later this year, the mega facility will offer international-standard infrastructure for 14 sports disciplines, including swimming, badminton, tennis, and volleyball.  

Chief Minister Sukhu also detailed the substantial financial incentives introduced to reward athletic excellence on global stages. Under the state’s revised policy, Asian Games gold medalists will receive Rs 3 crore, silver medalists Rs 2 crore, and bronze medalists up to Rs 1.5 crore. Similarly, Olympic achievers and other international competition winners are being incentivized with lucrative cash rewards worth crores of rupees.

Reflecting on structural reforms implemented during his tenure, the Chief Minister noted that the government had significantly hiked the daily diet allowance for sportspersons early on. Furthermore, travel provisions have been upgraded, enabling athletes to travel via air or air-conditioned train coaches when representing the state.  Addressing local infrastructure needs,

Sukhu assured that dedicated budgetary allocations are being processed to repair and renovate the synthetic track ground at Anu. Given the strong network of sports facilities across Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Una, the Chief Minister revealed the state’s intention to officially bid for hosting upcoming national Khelo India Games, further cementing Himachal's position on the country's sporting map.