Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced cash prizes for India’s Paralympic medallists. Gold medal winners will receive Rs 75 lakh, silver medalists will be awarded Rs 50 lakh, and bronze medalists will get Rs 30 lakh. Athletes excelling in mixed team events, such as archer Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar will be rewarded with Rs 22.5 lakh each. This announcement was made during a felicitation event for the athletes who recently competed in the Paris Paralympic Games. Meanwhile, Gold medal winners such as Navdeep Singh and Avani Lekhara will receive 75 lakh rupees.
Commitment to future Paralympic success
In his address, Mandaviya reaffirmed the government’s support for para-athletes, pledging to provide the necessary resources and facilities to help them secure even more medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
“The country is progressing rapidly in Paralympics. From just four medals in 2016, India secured 19 medals in Tokyo and 29 in Paris, achieving an 18th-place finish,” said Mandaviya. He expressed confidence in India’s continued success in para-sports with the right support.
Historic medal haul in Paris
India finished their Paris Paralympics campaign with a record-breaking 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze. This performance marked the country’s best-ever result at the Paralympic Games. The achievement also saw India surpass the 50-medal mark in the history of the Paralympic Games.
Prize money for Paris Olympics medal winners
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) past has announced the same prize money for the Paris Olympic medallists. India won a total of 6 medals including one silver and 5 bronze medals. The BCCI also awarded Rs 1 crore to Neeraj Chopra, Rs 50 lakh to silver medal winners, and Rs 25 lakh to bronze medal winners.
Jubilant homecoming
India’s Paralympic athletes received a hero’s welcome upon their return. Hundreds of supporters gathered to celebrate the unprecedented medal haul, making it a moment of national pride. The final medal of the campaign came from the men’s javelin throw F41 final, where Navdeep Singh clinched India’s 7th gold.