Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna Gives Cash Awards to Para-Athletes, Asian U20 Medallists

Hon'ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Thiru Aadhav Arjuna presents a cheque for Rs. 10 lakh to Para-badminton player Thulasimathi Murugesan, shooting equipment worth Rs. 6.27 lakh to Para-shooter Manoj Kumar, and special incentives totalling Rs. 15.65 lakh to other athletes. At an event held today (09.06.2026) at the Nehru Indoor Stadium, the Hon'ble Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Thiru Aadhav Arjuna, with the aim of encouraging Tamil Nadu athletes excelling at the international level, presented a cheque for Rs. 10 lakh in financial assistance to Para-badminton player Thulasimathi Murugesan. This assistance, provided under the Elite Sportsperson Scheme of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, is towards travel and training expenses for her participation in the French Para-Badminton International and the British & Irish Para-Badminton International tournaments this month. The Minister also presented shooting equipment worth Rs. 6,27,795 to Para-shooter Thiru Manoj Kumar, through the Tamil Nadu Champions Trust, to enable him to compete in State and national-level competitions and win medals. Athletes Thiru Jithin Arjunan (Men's Long Jump), Selvi Sadhana Ravi (Women's Triple Jump) and Selvi G. Bhavana (Women's 4x100m Relay), who trained under the Champions Development Scheme (CDS) and won silver medals at the Asian U-20 Athletics Championships held in Hong Kong in May, were each given a special incentive of Rs. 3 lakh, while Thiru S. Ranjith Kumar, who won a bronze medal in the Men's 4x400m Relay, was given Rs. 2 lakh, the Minister announced. He also presented a cheque for Rs. 4.65 lakh under the Elite Scheme to sailing athlete Sitharesh Nadesan, for the purchase of high-quality equipment ahead of his participation in the 2026 Asian Beach Games to be held in China. The event was attended by Member-Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu Thiru J. Meghanath Reddy, IAS; District Revenue Officer Thiru Sara. Suman; General Manager Smt. L. Sujatha; and other government officials. Issued by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9