A bronze medal won on Japanese soil is about to turn into a life-changing cheque back home. The Chief Minister's Office of Tamil Nadu announced on Thursday, 22 October 2026 that para-badminton player Manisha Ramadas — who claimed bronze in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 category at the 5th Para Asian Games in Japan — will receive a cash incentive of Rs. 30 lakh from the Tamil Nadu government.

Manisha Ramadas and India's SL3-SU5 bronze in Japan

Manisha Ramadas, representing Tamil Nadu, was part of the Indian para-badminton team that secured the bronze medal in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 event at the ongoing 5th Para Asian Games. The SL3 classification covers players with lower-limb impairment who compete while standing, while SU5 denotes athletes with upper-limb impairment — making the mixed doubles pairing a demanding test of coordination and adaptability at the highest level of Asian para sport.

The Chief Minister's Office, posting in Tamil under the hashtag #CMJosephVijay, offered 'heartfelt congratulations and best wishes' to both the Indian team and Manisha personally, crediting her achievement to 'perseverance and hard work.'

Rs. 30 lakh incentive and what it signals for para sport in Tamil Nadu

The Rs. 30 lakh cash award announced by the state government is consistent with Tamil Nadu's standing practice of rewarding athletes who medal at Asian or Paralympic-level competitions. State governments across India use these monetary incentives as a two-pronged tool — recognition for the athlete who delivered, and a visible signal to the next generation that para sport is a viable, valued pursuit.

The official statement made this intent explicit, noting that Manisha's victory 'will give new hope to the younger generation of para athletes.' For a sporting ecosystem where funding and visibility remain scarcer than in able-bodied disciplines, a government-backed Rs. 30 lakh payout carries weight well beyond the number itself.

Tamil Nadu's consistent bet on inclusive sport

Tamil Nadu has steadily used official channels to spotlight its para athletes, and this announcement follows that pattern. The state's track record of cash awards for international medallists — para and able-bodied alike — has been part of a broader push to make competitive sport accessible and aspirational across the state. The Chief Minister's personal congratulations, framed as a message that Manisha's success should inspire future champions to 'bring glory to Tamil Nadu and India,' frames this not merely as an individual reward but as a state-level investment in inclusive excellence.

Manisha Ramadas leaves Japan with a bronze medal around her neck and Rs. 30 lakh on the way — and, if the government's stated hope holds, a generation of young Tamil Nadu para athletes watching closely.