Officials said the incentive policy aims to nurture sporting talent from the grassroots while motivating Ladakh’s athletes to compete and excel on the global stage.
BY PC Bureau
August 1: In a major push to promote sporting excellence, the Union Territory of Ladakh has announced an ambitious cash incentive policy offering rewards of up to ₹1 crore for athletes winning medals at the Olympic Games and Paralympics.
The comprehensive scheme, unveiled by the UT administration, covers performances at international, national, university, school and para-sports competitions. Officials said the policy is aimed at encouraging athletes from the grassroots level while rewarding excellence on the world’s biggest sporting stages.
Under the new policy, an Olympic or Paralympic gold medallist from Ladakh will receive ₹1 crore, while silver medallists will be awarded ₹75 lakh and bronze winners ₹50 lakh.
Athletes winning medals at the Asian Games and Para Asian Games will receive ₹50 lakh for gold, ₹30 lakh for silver, and ₹25 lakh for bronze.
For the Commonwealth Games and Para Commonwealth Games, the administration has fixed incentives of ₹25 lakh for gold, ₹15 lakh for silver, and ₹10 lakh for bronze.
The policy also extends generous rewards to medal winners at World Championships and World Cups. Gold medallists at quadrennial World Championships or World Cups will receive ₹80 lakh, while annual world events carry incentives of ₹50 lakh for gold, ₹30 lakh for silver and ₹20 lakh for bronze.
Senior and junior medal winners at Commonwealth and Asian Championships will be eligible for ₹15 lakh for gold, ₹10 lakh for silver and ₹5 lakh for bronze.
The administration has also announced special recognition for achievements in chess. Sportspersons attaining the title of International Grandmaster (GM) will receive ₹1 crore, while those earning the International Master (IM) title will be awarded ₹75 lakh.
Even participation at the Olympic Games or Paralympics will be rewarded. Athletes competing in individual events will receive ₹10 lakh, while members of team events will be given ₹5 lakh each.
National-Level Incentives
The policy also provides substantial rewards for success at the national level.
Senior national champions will receive ₹25 lakh for gold, ₹20 lakh for silver and ₹15 lakh for bronze, while junior champions will be awarded ₹20 lakh, ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh, respectively.
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Focus on School and University Sports
To encourage young talent, the administration has introduced attractive incentives for school and university competitions.
Gold medallists at the National School Games and All India University Games will receive up to ₹10 lakh, with silver and bronze winners also eligible for significant cash awards.
Athletes competing in regional, zonal and state-level school competitions will likewise receive financial rewards, ensuring support from the grassroots level upward.
Equal Recognition for Para-Athletes
The policy places particular emphasis on inclusivity by offering parity in rewards for para-athletes at the highest international events.
Para-athletes winning medals at the Paralympics, Para Asian Games and Para Commonwealth Games will receive the same cash awards as their able-bodied counterparts.
Separate incentives have also been announced for athletes participating in competitions for the visually impaired, hearing impaired and Special Olympics, with national champions eligible for awards of up to ₹5 lakh.
Officials said the incentive programme reflects Ladakh’s commitment to building a strong sporting culture and encouraging young athletes to pursue excellence at every level.
The administration expressed confidence that the policy would help identify and nurture emerging talent while motivating sportspersons from the Union Territory to compete successfully on national and international platforms.
