Prizes worth ₹1.38 cr, Khel Pratibha Puraskar awarded by Guj Govt
Updated: Feb 26th, 2024
44 talented sportspersons of the state were awarded ‘Khel Pratibha Purasakar’ by the sports minister of the state, Harsh Sanghavi, today. These players were also awarded cash prizes worth over ₹1.38 crore.
A total of 44 talented sportspersons in the state were awarded cash prizes of ₹1,38,20,000/- today.
Some of them are, Asian Championship winner Manav Thakkar (Table Tennis) was awarded ₹23,20,000; Harmeet Desai (Table Tennis) ₹23,20,000; Shaheen Darjada (Judo) ₹15,00,000; Nirvi Hekkad (Taekwondo) ₹10,00,000; and Mihir Naliapara (Taekwondo) ₹10,00,000.
The 44 athletes included players from national-level competitions, SGFI competitions, and Khelo India competitions.
Minister addresses awardees
The future of the state in terms of sports is extremely bright, said Sanghavi. He added that the sport-loving youth of Gujarat should thrive and the government is eager to help every sportsperson in fulfilling their ability.
Sanghavi, while addressing the sportspersons who received the award said that all of the players have made the state proud and shone its name across the country. The then chief minister and current prime minister, Narendra Modi started ‘Khel Mahakumbh’ in 2010 in the state to find sports talents from the state, said the minister.
All necessary facilities and training are provided to sportspersons of the state through in-schools and DLSS and Shakti Dut Yojana in such a way that sportspersons get all the facilities and can progress to different levels in the field of sports, said Sanghavi.
He continued, “Due to the hard work of the players and the support of the state government, many players have received National Awards. Not only in their village in ‘Khel Mahakumbh’, these sportsmen will also bring medals for the country.”
Ambitious schemes have been implemented by the state government to make sports more encouraging and result-oriented. Among them, ‘Khel Pratibha Puraskar Yojana’ has been implemented since 2014-15 and ‘Divyang Khel Pratibha Puraskar Yojana’ since 2016-17 to honour sportspersons of the state with cash prizes.
Sportsmanship Award Scheme
Winners of state national level international level and scholastic and sports India competitions as well as Paralympics, mentally challenged players, deaf-mute and blind sports talent are awarded cash prizes apart from general Olympics.
A scheme is also in place to award cash prizes to the winners of the state national level and international levels as well as school and Khelo India competitions under the Khel Pratibha Puraskar Yojana.
Gujarat sportspersons who get first, second, or third position in international level Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Games/Asian Championship (Seniors), Commonwealth Games/Asian Championship (Juniors) competitions are awarded from funds ranging ₹500 crore to ₹10,000 crore.
Initiatives under the Khel Pratibha Award Scheme
From 2014-15 till now, the general and disabled category players who have won gold medals, silver medals and bronze at the national and international levels of Gujarat have been given cash prizes as per the following details.
Thus, till now a total of 1,587 sportspersons who have achieved a national and international level in the field of sports of Gujarat state have been honoured with a total of ₹23,55,99,000/- under the Government's Khel Pratibha Award Scheme.
Principal secretary Ashwini Kumar, director general of sports authority of Gujarat RS Ninama, secretary of sports authority of Gujarat IR Wala, vice chancellor of Swarnim Gujarat Sports University Arjun Singh Rana, and Khel Pratibha awardees and their parents were present on this occasion.
