Maharashtra’s new reward formula cuts Kabaddi gold winners’ share, athletes seek redress

Mumbai – The Indian kabaddi contingent that secured gold at the 2026 Asian Games met with Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday, presenting a memorandum that challenges the state’s revised prize distribution. Under the older scheme, gold‑medal athletes were entitled to Rs 3 crore, while silver and bronze fetched Rs 2 crore and Rs 1 crore respectively. Team members also enjoyed a guaranteed Rs 75 lakh each. A new government resolution released on September 17 replaces this with a collective Rs 5 crore pool for any team with more than ten players, effectively reducing individual earnings to about Rs 42 lakh. Aslam Inamdar explained that the abrupt policy shift “undermines the value of an Asian Games gold and leaves many players, who are largely from middle‑class families, financially vulnerable.” He commended Sunetra Pawar for listening and promised that a favourable outcome is expected soon. Female star Sonali Shinget narrated her personal loss, noting that she previously received Rs 2.25 crore, a sum now dramatically trimmed. She warned that such cuts could erode confidence and impair performance, urging the government to revisit the reward framework. The athletes remain optimistic that their appeal will trigger a revision, emphasizing that consistent, equitable incentives are essential for sustaining India’s sporting excellence.