The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government honored five athletes and a coach from Delhi who achieved remarkable success at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, distributing ₹3.35 crore under its cash incentive scheme. The awards were presented by Chief Minister Atishi during a special event attended by students from the Delhi Sports School.
Awards Distribution
- Sharad Kumar: ₹2 crore
- Aman: ₹1 crore
- Sharad Kumar’s Coach, Sajal Kumar Rai: ₹10 lakh
- Tulika Maan: ₹10 lakh
- Vikas Singh: ₹10 lakh
- Amoj Jacob: ₹5 lakh
Government’s Commitment to Sports
CM Atishi emphasized the government’s dedication to nurturing both budding and established athletes. Over the last decade, significant investments have been made to improve sports infrastructure and support programs, including:
- Delhi Sports School:
- Established two years ago, the school trains children in 10 Olympic sports with world-class facilities and rigorous routines.
- Play and Progress Scheme:
- Launched in 2018, this initiative has supported 1,400 young athletes, providing financial assistance of over ₹31 crore.
- Mission Excellence Program:
- Designed for post-school athletes preparing for international competitions, the program offers financial aid of up to ₹16 lakh per athlete. Since 2018, 394 athletes have received a combined total of ₹25 crore.
- Sports Infrastructure Development:
- Focus on international-standard facilities like hockey astroturf fields, synthetic tracks, swimming pools, and football grounds to equip athletes for global competitions.
Inspiration for Young Athletes
During the event, honored athletes shared their experiences with students, offering insights and motivation. CM Atishi expressed hope that these interactions would inspire the next generation to achieve greatness.
“I envision a future where Delhi produces so many Olympic gold medalists that there won’t be enough space on the stage for them all,” she said, adding that the goal is to elevate India’s medal tally to triple digits.
Challenges and Vision
Acknowledging the underperformance of India, despite its vast talent pool, Atishi attributed past struggles to inadequate government support and high costs of sports training. She emphasized the AAP government’s efforts to remove these barriers and pledged continued support to ensure young athletes can excel on the global stage.
This event highlighted the AAP government’s proactive approach in fostering a strong sports culture and investing in future champions for India.