Leh, August 1: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, V.K. Saxena, approved the Ladakh Sports Policy 2026 on Saturday. This policy promises monthly scholarships, one-time cash awards, and ongoing financial support for athletes. The announcement is seen as a significant step towards transforming the Union Territory into a sports powerhouse.
Saxena emphasized the importance of this initiative in the realm of sports development. He stated that the goal of the policy is to create a vibrant and self-sufficient sports community. Young athletes should pursue sports as a career without financial worries.
He highlighted the significance of this initiative, noting that the policy reflects the administration’s long-term commitment to fostering a robust sports culture in Ladakh, complete with continuous financial support, improved facilities, scientific coaching, and career opportunities.
Saxena remarked that every medal won by a Ladakhi athlete is a matter of pride for the nation. He assured that talented athletes would not face financial hurdles.
The policy is based on the principle of “Scout, Facilitate, and Recognize.” It aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting sports through initiatives like Khelo India. The aim is to identify, nurture, and reward talent from local to international levels.
A notable feature of the sports policy is the introduction of monthly scholarships for medal winners in renowned international, national, state-level, National School Games, and Khelo India competitions.
Under this scheme, international gold medalists will receive ₹1 lakh per month, national gold medalists ₹75,000, and state-level gold medalists ₹10,000. Silver and bronze medalists will also be eligible for scholarships. Athletes moving up to higher competition levels will receive enhanced scholarships without losing their current support.
The administration has also announced one-time cash bonuses ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹1 crore for medal winners in prestigious sporting events. These bonuses will be in addition to the monthly scholarships.
Adventure sports have been included in the sports policy, with a one-time cash award of ₹10 lakh set aside for Ladakhi mountaineers who successfully reach peaks over 8,000 meters anywhere in the world.
Special cash awards have also been introduced for athletes performing well in the Paralympic Games, Para Asian Games, Para Commonwealth Games, National Para Sports Championships, and competitions for athletes with visual, hearing, and intellectual disabilities.
Officials stated that the policy was finalized after discussions with stakeholders over the past two months. Athletes and their families had expressed concerns about the financial challenges associated with high-level training and competition.
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