CHANDIGARH, June 1 — In a major boost to the city’s sporting landscape, the Chandigarh administration on Saturday held a grand felicitation ceremony to honour athletes who have excelled at national and international levels, distributing over ₹13 crore in awards and scholarships.
Union Minister for Labour, Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, who presided over the event alongside Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, assured comprehensive support from the Centre to enhance Chandigarh’s sporting ecosystem.
“We will ensure the best coaching is available to athletes in Chandigarh,” Mandaviya said. “Plans are underway to develop an integrated multiplex sports infrastructure, where multiple disciplines can be trained under one roof.”
Governor Kataria applauded the sports department for its commitment and declared Chandigarh the first city in India to distribute nearly ₹20 crore in scholarships to student-athletes.
“Such investments in youth not only recognise talent but also shape the future of Indian sports,” Kataria said. He also credited local sports associations for their consistent efforts in hosting competitive events across the city.
At the event, ₹1.32 crore in scholarships was transferred online to 320 athletes, ensuring transparency and ease of access. Additionally, ₹5.67 crore in cash awards was presented to 448 sportspersons, including 8 international and 23 national-level athletes. Para-athletes received special recognition for their exemplary achievements.
A significant moment of the day was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UT Education Department and the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust, under the aegis of the FIVB Volleyball Foundation (Switzerland) and Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).
The agreement aims to improve volleyball infrastructure in 108 city schools, broadening both access and excellence in the sport.
Union Minister Mandaviya also inaugurated several new sports infrastructure projects. These include modern chess centres at Sector 8 and Sector 39 sports complexes, and a snooker and billiards hall at Sector 42, built at a cost of ₹6 crore.
Officials said the new additions reflect Chandigarh’s ambition to provide world-class training environments for its athletes.
Marathon 2025 Logo Unveiled
The event concluded with the unveiling of the logo and tagline for the Chandigarh Marathon 2025, positioning it as one of the city’s flagship fitness and community events in the coming year.
