Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Sports Department has revealed that prize money amounting to approximately ₹11.5 crore remains pending for athletes who won medals at national and international competitions since 2018.
The figure was disclosed by Prashanth IAS, Special Secretary of the Sports Department, in a detailed Facebook post written in the context of Kerala shooter Vidarsha K. Vinod’s silver-medal achievement at the Asian Games.
According to Prashanth IAS, steps have now been initiated to prepare the list of pending prize-money claims and release the amounts. ₹1.5 crore has been sanctioned in the first phase, he stated.
₹11.5 Crore in Pending Rewards
The disclosure comes as Kerala celebrates Vidarsha K. Vinod’s silver medal at the Asian Games. While highlighting the importance of recognising current sporting achievements, Prashanth IAS also drew attention to the unresolved prize-money commitments to athletes who had achieved success in previous years.
The post states that the pending amount for Kerala athletes who won medals in national and international competitions from 2018 onwards is approximately ₹11.5 crore.
Prashanth IAS stressed that announcing rewards for new medal winners should go hand in hand with clearing earlier dues within a reasonable timeframe.
According to the post, prize money can have a direct impact on athletes’ lives. It can help them repay loans taken for training and equipment, purchase new sporting equipment, meet travel expenses and manage family responsibilities.
First-Phase Release of ₹1.5 Crore
The Sports Department has begun the process of addressing the pending payments, with ₹1.5 crore sanctioned in the first phase, according to the post.
Prashanth IAS suggested that the issue should not simply be viewed as a matter of assigning blame, but as an opportunity to create a system that prevents such delays from recurring.
He proposed a unified digital system through which the government and athletes could track details such as the year of achievement, competition, medal, eligible prize amount and current status of the file.
Such a system, he suggested, could also ensure that the administrative process begins automatically after an athlete records a major achievement rather than requiring athletes or their families to repeatedly approach government offices.
Vidarsha to Receive ₹30 Lakh
The issue of pending rewards was highlighted alongside the government’s current policy on sports incentives.
Vidarsha K. Vinod, who won silver at the Asian Games, is eligible for a ₹30 lakh cash reward under the policy announced ahead of the Games.
The announced structure provides ₹50 lakh for a gold medal, ₹30 lakh for silver and ₹20 lakh for bronze. Separate incentives have also been announced for coaches.
Prashanth IAS noted that announcing the reward structure before the competition is significant because it represents a commitment made to athletes before they enter the arena.
The Struggle Behind Sporting Success
The post also details Vidarsha’s difficult journey in shooting.
She entered the sport through the NCC in 2018 and eventually reached the state’s top level despite initially not having her own rifle or shooting jacket.
The cost of equipment and training reportedly became a major challenge, and there were periods when she considered giving up the sport. Her first rifle was purchased with a loan, while coach Manoj Kumar later provided her with a lightweight rifle that she used on her journey to the Asian Games.
Prashanth IAS also highlighted the support of Manu S. Ravi, Vidarsha’s husband and a shooting coach in Kerala, who has remained an important source of guidance and support in her sporting career.
Beyond Prize Money
The message from the Sports Department official goes beyond the issue of cash rewards.
According to Prashanth IAS, athletes need sustained access to equipment, coaching, travel support, healthcare and opportunities to continue their careers. If these costs are left entirely to families, competitive sport can increasingly become inaccessible to talented children from financially weaker backgrounds.
He also called for better use of existing facilities belonging to schools, colleges and local bodies, along with district-level training centres and shared equipment facilities for expensive sporting disciplines.
From Celebration to a Sustainable Sports System
The post argues that sporting success should not end with receptions, garlands and media attention.
Instead, a medal should help create opportunities for the next generation of athletes.
Vidarsha’s journey from Thiruvambady to the Asian Games podium is presented as an example of how talent can overcome significant obstacles when determination and support come together.
The broader challenge, according to the post, is to build a sporting environment in Kerala where a talented child does not have to abandon a promising career because of financial constraints, lack of equipment or delays in government support.
