Sports Ministry ends cash prizes for junior athletes

A Sports Ministry official stated that the decision was driven by the goal of emphasizing junior competitions as opportunities for development rather than focusing solely on winning medals.

"We noticed that only India follows a model where junior championships are given over-importance. As a result, we have noticed that athletes work so hard at this level that by the time they reach the elite stage, they are either burnt out or have lost the hunger," the official told Indian Express.

"It can be said that the cash awards are one of the reasons athletes are lured into adopting unfair means. Most of them come from humble backgrounds, so it is a case of high risk, high reward for them," said another official.

Among the indigenous sports promoted for international inclusion are Yogasana, Mallakhamb (a discipline blending gymnastics, yoga, and wrestling techniques on a pole or rope), and kho-kho.

Breakdancing, which made its Olympic debut at the Paris Games, was met with mixed reactions, including international criticism. The sport will not be part of the 2028 Olympic Games.

E-sports, which involves competitive video gaming, made its debut as an exhibition event at the 2023 Asian Games.

Until recently, the policy—last amended in 2020—provided cash incentives only for Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, along with chess and cue sports (billiards & snooker). The reward structure remains largely unchanged, with Olympic gold medalists eligible for the highest payout of Rs 75 lakh.

However, the ministry has now specified that no cash rewards will be given for world or continental championships where fewer than four teams participate. Full prize money will be granted if at least 16 individuals or 12 teams compete. If participation numbers fall below eight individuals or six teams, the reward will be halved.

Athletes winning multiple medals at international competitions will receive cash incentives only for their highest-ranking medal, except in the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, and Para-Asian Games, where rewards will be given for each medal won.

Coach incentives have also been restructured into three categories. Coaches will receive 50% of the cash reward given to the athlete, distributed as follows:

30% for the grassroots-level coach who first identified and trained the athlete.

30% for the developmental-level coach who further nurtured the athlete.

40% for the elite-level coach responsible for advanced training.

Additionally, the South Asian Games have been removed from the list of events eligible for cash rewards. Chess players, who previously received Rs 4 lakh upon achieving Grandmaster status, will no longer receive financial incentives under the revised policy.