Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced cash rewards for Indian athletes who won medals at the Asian Games 2026. Squash players Joshna Chinappa and Shameena Riyaz, sailor Nethra Kumanan, and medalists Velavan Senthilkumar, Abhay Singh, Abinaya Rajarajan, Vishal TK, Rajesh Ramesh, and Baranica Elangovan will each receive ₹30 lakh. Sprinter Vithya Ramraj, who won three medals in different track events, will receive ₹75 lakh, the highest reward announced by the state government, according to livemint.com.
The announcement follows Tamil Nadu's established reward policy for athletes who win medals at national and international competitions. Initially, Vithya Ramraj was awarded ₹30 lakh, but after her historic achievement of securing three medals across three different track events, the amount was raised first to ₹50 lakh and then to ₹75 lakh. The other athletes named received ₹30 lakh each for their respective bronze medals at the Asian Games, reflecting the state government's support for sporting excellence.
This move by Tamil Nadu aligns with similar initiatives by Indian states to incentivize athletes and boost sports development. The cash incentives recognize the athletes' contributions to India's medal tally and aim to encourage further participation and success in international sports events. Tamil Nadu's rewards are comparable to other states' policies that offer financial support to medal-winning athletes, reinforcing the growing importance of sports in India's public policy agenda.
The Tamil Nadu government’s announcement on October 3, 2026, confirms the total rewards for Asian Games medalists from the state, with Vithya Ramraj receiving ₹75 lakh and other medalists ₹30 lakh each, as reported by livemint.com.