Karnataka government hikes cash rewards for Asian Games medal winners
Karnataka government announces massive hike in cash prizes for Asian Games 2026 winners, including Rs 1 crore for gold medalists.
In a massive boost for the state's sporting community, the Karnataka government has announced a significant hike in cash rewards for athletes who brought glory to the state at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. The decision, which includes a historic increase in prize money for medalists and a new incentive for all participants, was unveiled following a felicitation ceremony led by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
Massive Jump in Medal Prize Money
The state government has fundamentally restructured its reward system to better recognize the excellence of its athletes. The new cash incentives for medal winners have seen a dramatic upward revision:
- Gold Medal: Increased from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
- Silver Medal: Increased from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 75 lakh.
- Bronze Medal: Increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
This revised structure ensures that the financial rewards are commensurate with the prestige of the Asian Games. Furthermore, in a first-of-its-kind move, the government has decided to provide a Rs 5 lakh incentive to every single athlete from Karnataka who qualified for and participated in the games.
The Big Winners: Who Gets What?
A total of eight athletes from Karnataka secured medals at the event, with the combined cash prize pool for these eight individuals amounting to a staggering Rs 8.00 crore. On top of their medal rewards, these eight winners will also receive the Rs 5 lakh participation incentive.
The standout performers and their earnings include:
- M.R. Poovamma: A double medalist, winning gold in the 4x400 women's relay and silver in the 4x400 mixed relay, earning a total of Rs 1.75 crore.
- Pranavi S. Aras: Secured gold in the individual golf event and silver in the women's golf team event, also totaling Rs 1.75 crore.
- Shreyanka R. Patil: Won gold in the women's cricket team event, earning Rs 1 crore.
- Mohit H.S.: Part of the gold-winning men's hockey team, receiving Rs 1 crore.
- Tilottama Sen: Earned silver in the 50m rifle team event, receiving Rs 75 lakh.
- Aditi Ashok: Secured silver in the women's golf team event, receiving Rs 75 lakh.
- Ayush Shetty: Won bronze in badminton, receiving Rs 50 lakh.
- Sneha S.S.: Won bronze in athletics, receiving Rs 50 lakh.
The list of participants who will receive the Rs 5 lakh incentive also includes Yash Palaksha, Supriya Sondigara Basavaraju, Unnathi Ayyappa, Kiran Ranganami, Fouad Mirza, and Akash Mani, among others.
Career Security and Olympic Preparation
Beyond immediate cash rewards, the government is ensuring long-term stability for its champions. Medal winners from the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games will now be eligible for direct recruitment to Group-B posts. These appointments will be managed through a specialized committee headed by the Chief Secretary.
To further support the road to the Olympics, the government has included M.R. Poovamma, Sneha S.S., Shreyanka Patil, and Commonwealth Games medalist Shilpa K.S. under the Guru Olympics Scheme for 2026-27. Each of these athletes will receive Rs 10 lakh specifically to assist in their Olympic preparations.
Reservation for Meritorious Athletes
In a landmark policy shift, an order dated October 3, 2026, has mandated a 2% horizontal reservation for meritorious sportspersons. This reservation will apply to direct recruitment across all categories of state government posts, including Group-A, Group-B, Group-C, and Group-D, providing a structured pathway for athletes to transition into stable government careers.