Sports Minister hands Rs 5.80 lakh emergency aid to two athletes for Olympic preparation

Hon'ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Thiru Athav Arjuna hands over cheques worth Rs.5.80 lakh with immediate effect to two aspiring Olympic-hopeful sportspersons in response to their request for financial assistance. The Hon'ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development, Thiru Athav Arjuna, today (25.05.2026) at the Nehru Stadium, handed over cheques worth Rs.5.80 lakh with immediate effect to two aspiring sportspersons hoping to compete at the Olympics, in response to their request for financial assistance. Following this, the Hon'ble Sports Development Minister said the following. Various measures are currently being undertaken to identify enthusiastic sportspersons and, through the Sports Development Department, help them become achievers. In this regard, Tamil Nadu athlete Selvi Sameeha Parveen, who is keen to win a medal at the upcoming Olympics, and swimmer Abhishek, who has competed at national-level events, had requested financial assistance. To help them participate in various training competitions and to assist with the purchase of necessary equipment and nutritional needs, under the Special Assistance Scheme for elite sportspersons capable of winning medals at the Olympics and other international events, a cheque for Rs.3 lakh was handed over today to sportswoman Sameeha Parveen, and a cheque for Rs.2.80 lakh to sportsman Abhishek, with immediate effect. Further, all necessary steps are being taken to identify talented sportspersons across Tamil Nadu, help them participate in national and international competitions, and provide them the financial assistance needed to become achievers. Arrangements have been made for sportspersons and sports association administrators to meet me without any difficulty every day between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Chennai Nehru Indoor Stadium to raise requests regarding the Sports Development Department. Senior Sports Department officials are also working from 7 p.m. onward at the Nehru Indoor Stadium to promptly resolve the requests of sportspersons. In this regard, today sportspersons submitted various requests concerning the Sports Development Department. Sports Department officials have taken immediate action on most of these petitions. Officials have also been instructed to take the necessary steps to upgrade the infrastructure facilities of stadiums, training halls and hostels for sportspersons functioning under the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority across all districts. This is what the Hon'ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development said. The event was also attended by Thiru Vajjan Singh Ra Sawan, IAS, Secretary to Government, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department; Thiru J. Meganatha Chetty, IAS, Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority; Thiru Se. Suman, District Revenue Officer; Smt. L. Sujatha, General Manager; and other concerned officials. Issued by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9