Chennai, Oct 30:
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday distributed cash incentives totalling Rs 6.85 crore to nine Tamil Nadu athletes who won medals at the fifth Asian Para Games in Japan. He also launched a monthly financial assistance scheme for 2,600 sportspersons at the concluding ceremony of the Chief Minister Trophy 2026.
At a function held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, badminton player Thulasimathi Murugesan received Rs 1.75 crore, while fellow shuttler Naveen Sivakumar was awarded Rs 1.05 crore. Long jumper Solairaj Dharmaraj received Rs 75 lakh. The other recipients were Nithyasree, Sivarajan Solaimani, Kasturi Rajamani, Manisha Ramadass, Baby Sahana and JD Madhan.
Under the newly launched assistance scheme, athletes training at hostels and specialised sports centres run by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu will receive Rs 500 a month towards personal expenses. Those training at hostels attached to premier sports centres will receive Rs 1,000 a month. The scheme has an annual allocation of Rs 1.77 cr.
Vijay also presented trophies to the districts that topped the medal tally in the State-level Chief Minister Trophy competitions. Chennai secured the first position with 319 medals, including 142 gold, 97 silver and 80 bronze. Chengalpattu finished second with 143 medals, followed by Coimbatore with 118.
The 2026 edition of the Chief Minister Trophy attracted 27.82 lakh registrations, with 10.36 lakh athletes participating in district- and zonal-level competitions across 38 districts. Competitions were conducted in 45 sports disciplines, including seven newly introduced events. The total prize allocation was Rs 38 crore.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Olympic Water Sports Academy at Pirappanvalasai in Ramanathapuram district, built at a cost of Rs 42.90 crore, and a multi-purpose sports complex at Karuppur in Salem district, constructed for Rs 20 crore. DT Next