The Karnataka government on 6 October 2026 announced a sharp increase in cash rewards for eight sportspersons from the state who won medals at the Asian Games 2026, raising prize money to ₹1 crore for gold, ₹75 lakh for silver, and ₹50 lakh for bronze — nearly tripling earlier rates. The revision was confirmed through an official statement from Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's office.

How Much the Rewards Have Increased

Under the previous structure, gold medallists received ₹35 lakh, silver medallists ₹25 lakh, and bronze medallists ₹15 lakh. The revised scheme raises each band substantially — gold by nearly 186%, silver by 200%, and bronze by over 233%. Each of the eight athletes will also receive an additional ₹5 lakh subsidy over and above their medal-linked reward.

Who Gets What

Cricketer Shreyanka Patil, part of the Indian women's cricket team that claimed gold, will receive ₹1 crore. Track athlete M.R. Poovamma — who won silver in the 4x400 mixed relay and gold as part of the 4x400 women's relay — will receive a combined ₹1.75 crore. Golfer Pranavi S. Urs, who secured both a team silver and an individual gold in golf, will also take home ₹1.75 crore.

Shooter Tilottama Sen, who won silver in the women's 50-metre rifle team event, is set to receive ₹75 lakh. Golfer Aditi Ashok, who claimed an individual silver, will get ₹75 lakh. Shuttler Ayush R. Shetty, part of the Indian men's badminton team that won bronze, will receive ₹50 lakh, as will sprinter Sneha S.S., a bronze medallist in the 4x100 mixed relay. Hockey player Mohit H.S., a member of the gold-medal-winning men's hockey team, will receive ₹1 crore.

What Triggered the Revision

The revision follows public dissatisfaction expressed by senior track athlete Poovamma, who had criticised Karnataka's earlier reward of ₹35 lakh for a gold medal as inadequate compared to incentives offered by other states. She also reportedly felt let down that no state leaders or district officials called to congratulate her immediately after her win in Japan. The criticism prompted Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who also holds the Sports portfolio, to announce on Monday that the government was reconsidering its reward structure in light of what rival states offer.

Jobs, Reservations, and Olympic Support

Beyond cash, the state government has decided to offer direct appointments to Group-B posts in government services to Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medal winners interested in public employment, through a selection committee headed by the Chief Secretary. A government notification dated 3 October also formalised a 2% reservation in direct recruitment for sportspersons across all categories — Group-A, B, C, and D — in state government posts.

Under the Olympics Scheme for 2026-27, Poovamma, Sneha, and Shreyanka, along with Commonwealth Games medal winner Shilpa K.S., have been enrolled to receive ₹10 lakh each to support their Olympic preparations. Additionally, 20 Karnataka athletes who represented India at the Asian Games 2026 without winning medals will receive a participation incentive of ₹5 lakh each.

Broader Impact

The overhaul marks one of the most comprehensive sports welfare packages Karnataka has announced in recent years, combining cash rewards, government jobs, competitive reservation, and long-term Olympic funding. With several states raising the bar on athlete incentives, the revision positions Karnataka among the more competitive state-level sports patronage regimes in the country. How swiftly disbursements are processed — and whether the jobs pipeline translates into actual appointments — will determine whether the announcement reshapes athlete confidence in the state's long-term commitment.