Kerala Government Rewards Medal-Winning Athletes from Commonwealth Games
Kerala's Recognition for Athletes
The Kerala government has announced cash awards for its athletes who secured medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This decision was confirmed by Sports Minister OJ Janeesh during a press briefing on Thursday following a cabinet meeting.
Cash Awards Breakdown
During the press conference, OJ Janeesh stated, "Kerala is committed to honoring our Malayali athletes who excelled at the Commonwealth Games. The Cabinet has decided to grant Rs 20 lakh each to Murali Sreeshankar, who earned a silver medal in long jump, and para-athlete Mohammed Basil, who also won silver in the men's 100 meters."
Additionally, Rs 20 lakh will be awarded to Divi Bijesh, the Under-12 World Chess Champion, and Sandra Mol Sabu, part of the Indian team that clinched gold in the mixed relay at the Under-23 Asian Games.
Further Awards for Finalists and Coaches
The Minister also mentioned that swimming finalist Sajan Prakash and 4x400m mixed relay finalist Ansa Babu will each receive Rs 5 lakh. Furthermore, the coaches of Sreeshankar and Basil will be awarded Rs 2 lakh each.
Increase in Prize Money
OJ Janeesh highlighted that Sreesankar had previously received Rs 10 lakh for his silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Under the current guidelines, athletes reaching the Commonwealth finals are eligible for Rs 5 lakh, while medalists receive Rs 5 lakh for gold, Rs 3 lakh for silver, and Rs 1 lakh for bronze. The government has decided to enhance these rewards after recognizing that the previous amounts were insufficient.
Aiming for an Athlete-Friendly Environment
The Minister expressed the government's intention to create a more "athlete-friendly" sports environment in Kerala, aiming to minimize the politicization of sports. He noted that prize money for athletes who have won medals in various national and international events has been pending since 2019. The government is actively working to settle these dues from the previous administration, with Rs 1.5 crore already sanctioned and plans to release the remaining funds in the coming months.