Shimla, Dec 5 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Sukhu, declared on Thursday that the state holds a unique esteem for athletes and is dedicated to making substantial improvements to sports infrastructure.

While overseeing a ceremony to honor athletes, he expressed that the government is devoted to acknowledging the efforts of sportspersons and nurturing a vibrant sports culture.

He stated that recognizing these athletes embodies the government's vision for a systematic transformation aimed at ensuring the state's self-sufficiency.

The Chief Minister highlighted a historic rise in prize money to motivate athletes and encourage youth participation in sports.

He noted that the prize money for athletes overcoming physical challenges has been increased eightfold to ensure equality with other competitors.

The government is also dedicated to enhancing education, health, and sports infrastructure, continually striving for progress and development in these areas.

Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma mentioned that the state has made significant strides in sports, achieving a level of excellence on par with its neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana.

The Chief Minister awarded cash prizes totaling Rs 14.77 crore to 21 international players.

Among the awardees was Paralympian Nishad Kumar, who received Rs 7.80 crore; Ajay Kumar was awarded Rs 2.50 crore for his silver medal at the Para Asian Games; Ritu Negi received Rs 33.32 lakh for her performance at the 2022 Paralympics; and Pushpa, Sushma Sharma, Nidhi Sharma, Jyoti, and Vishal Bhardwaj each received Rs 33.32 lakh for their contributions in kabaddi.

Furthermore, cricketer Renuka Singh Thakur from Shimla district was awarded Rs 13.32 lakh for her silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. Weightlifter Vikas Thakur from Hamirpur district was honored with Rs 2 crore for securing silver in an individual event.