Maharashtra approves Rs 2 lakh each for 12 athletes picked for international events

The Maharashtra government is set to give financial assistance to 12 of the state's athletes who have been selected for international competitions. A total fund of Rs 24 lakh has been sanctioned for the purpose. Each athlete will receive Rs 2 lakh. The money will be given for expenses related to training and competitions.

Three aims have been cited behind the decision: to further strengthen the state's sports sector, to provide the necessary facilities to promising athletes, and to give financial support to athletes representing the country at the international level.

The Directorate of Sports and Youth Services had examined the applications received from eligible athletes for the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. After the scrutiny, the directorate sent its recommendations to the state government.

A meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare, was held on August 5. The proposal was approved at this meeting. The amount will be distributed from the fund sanctioned for the financial year 2026-27.

The 12 athletes include players from gymnastics, equestrian, archery, volleyball, para-badminton, para-athletics and para-cycling.

The beneficiaries are as follows. Gymnastics: Soham Sanjog Dhole. Para-badminton: Aarti Dnyanoba Patil, Nilesh Balu Gaikwad, Premkumar Ale, Yashodhan Vijaykumar Ravankule and Latabai Parameshwar Umrekar. Equestrian: Hriday Vipul Chheda. Archery: Rayyan Taufik Siddiqui and Vaishnavi Babarao Pawar. Para-athletics: Dilip Mahadu Gavit. Para-cycling: Vishal Suresh Shelar. Volleyball: Maheshwari Prashant Bhavsakar.

Each athlete will be given Rs 2 lakh for the purposes that have been approved.

Arrangements have also been made to monitor the use of the money. The state government has directed the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services to ensure that the sanctioned assistance is spent only for the purposes decided.

The directorate has also been given the responsibility of verifying the athletes' eligibility, ensuring that the prescribed procedure is followed, and getting utilisation certificates submitted that give details of how the money was spent.