Chandigarh, August 19, 2026:The Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, today felicitated 995 promising sportspersons with scholarships worth ₹3.80 crore at the ‘Khiladi Khel Samman Samaroh’ organised by the Sports Department at Tagore Theatre, Sector-18. Scholarships of ₹48,000, ₹42,000 and ₹36,000 were awarded to first, second and third-position holders, respectively. A cash award of ₹1.20 crore was also presented to Mahit Sandhu in recognition of his exceptional sporting achievements.
The event was attended by Chairman of the Sports Standing Committee of the Administrator’s Advisory Council Shri Sanjay Tandon, Secretary Sports Ms. Prerna Puri, Director Sports Shri Saurabh Kumar Arora, Additional Director Sports Dr. Atul Dhakne and Joint Director Sports Dr. Mahinder Singh, among other officials.
Shri Kataria said the scholarships and awards were a recognition of the hard work, discipline and dedication of sportspersons and acknowledged the contribution of their coaches and families.
He highlighted that under the New Sports Policy, 2023, Chandigarh the annual scholarship was increased from ₹5,000 to ₹48,000. Around ₹32 crore has been provided to sportspersons over the past two years, including ₹22.12 crore in scholarships and ₹9.45 crore in prize money. With the latest disbursement, total scholarship support has reached around ₹26 crore.
The Administrator said this support was reflected in Chandigarh’s sporting performance, with the city’s medal tally rising from 297 to over 488 in two years. He highlighted the achievements of sportspersons including Sanjay and Gurjant Singh, Kashvee Gautam, Mohit Sandhu, Ishroop Narang, Angel Yadav, Amandeep and Prachi.
Assuring continued institutional support, Shri Kataria said no talented sportsperson should have to give up a sporting dream because of lack of resources. He also stressed that sports promote discipline, teamwork and resilience and help channelise youth energy away from drugs and other negative influences. During the programme, he administered a drug-free India pledge to the participants and dignitaries.
To further strengthen the sports ecosystem, the Administration has proposed a ₹200-crore sports complex at Sector-42, comprising an international-level multipurpose hall, Olympic-standard swimming pool and a 300-bed girls’ hostel. Existing facilities, including those at Sector-42 and the Sector-16 Cricket Stadium, are also being upgraded.
The Administration is promoting grassroots sporting talent through initiatives such as the Udaan-School Volleyball Programme and Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP).
Calling for sports to become an integral part of school life, Shri Kataria urged parents and teachers to recognise children’s talents beyond academic performance and provide them opportunities to pursue their interests.
He said the Administration’s aim was to make Chandigarh a sports hub where every talented child receives the opportunity, guidance and facilities needed to realise their potential. Congratulating the awardees, he said, “You sweat on the field; it is the responsibility of the Chandigarh Administration to stand with you.”
He urged young sportspersons to remain disciplined, learn from setbacks and work towards contributing to India’s emergence as one of the world’s leading sporting nations.