Manipur to felicitate 2023 Asian Games medalists, participants

IMPHAL — The Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS) department, government of Manipur, will reward Asian Games medalists and participants from the state with cash incentives to encourage those excelling in sports.

The athletes who won gold medals in the recently concluded Hangzhou Asian Games will be awarded a case prize of INR 15 lakh each, INR 10 lakh to silver medallists, INR 8 lakh to bronze medallists, and INR 2 lakh each to all participants as per the sports policy guidelines of the YAS, said an update from the department.

As many as 40 athletes from Manipur represented India in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 10 disciplines — aquatic (1), cycling (2), judo (1), rowing (2), weightlifting (2), wushu (3), canoeing and kayaking (7), sepaktakraw (10), football (9), and hockey (3).

Out of this, nine athletes returned home with medals – one gold (Nilakanta Sharma in men’s hockey), one silver (Roshibina Devi Naorem in wushu) and seven bronze (Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Bichu Devi Kharibam in women’s hockey; Sunil Singh Mayanglambam in canoeing; Mapiak Devi Ayekpam, Leirentopmbi Elangbam, Priya Devi Elangbam and Chaoba Devi Oinam in sepaktakraw)

The department stated that it has initiated the process of honouring achievers at international events like Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games; and gold medallists of National Games with government jobs in various state departments wherever deemed fit and on a priority basis as per the hierarchy of the events, said the director of YAS in a press release on Thursday.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam also assured financial assistance to all the qualified athletes representing the state in the upcoming 37th National Games 2023 scheduled to be held in Goa, so that they can focus on their sports and not worry about other things, it added.

It may be mentioned that Manipur has produced 19 Olympians including seven in hockey, four each in boxing and weightlifting, three in judo and one in archery, since 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Also read: Asian Games: Rankireddy, Shetty claim historic gold as India end Hangzhou campaign with 107 medals