The Chhattisgarh State Sports and Youth Welfare Department has opened the application process for the State Sports Awards, covering the years 2023-24 and 2024-25. The last date to submit applications is June 26, 2025. The awards include the Shaheed Rajiv Pandey, Shaheed Kaushal Yadav, Shaheed Pankaj Vikram, Shaheed Vinod Choubey, and Veer Hanuman Singh awards, along with the Chief Minister’s Trophy, cash prizes, diet money, and the Prerna Nidhi. These awards aim to honor and motivate players, coaches, and referees who demonstrate exceptional performance at both state and national levels. Selection criteria include eligibility, achievements, and recommendations from sports organizations. The Shaheed Rajiv Pandey Award winner will receive ₹3 lakh, while the Shaheed Kaushal Yadav and Veer Hanuman Singh awardees will each receive ₹1.5 lakh. The Pankaj Vikram and Vinod Choubey Samman winners will each be awarded ₹25,000, and the Chief Minister’s Trophy winners will receive between ₹1 lakh and ₹5 lakh, depending on the team’s size. Athletes who have won medals at national or international competitions, along with players from state-level competitions in the sub-junior, junior, and senior categories, are eligible to apply. Athletes seeking diet money must be under 19 years old. Application forms can be accessed on the department’s website, http://sportsyw.cg.gov.in, or obtained from the district/state sports offices. Notably, applications for the Shaheed Pankaj Vikram Samman must be accompanied by a recommendation from the respective state sports association. Applications must be submitted by June 26, 2025 (office hours) to the Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium, G.E. Road, Raipur, or the District Sports Office, Raipur. All required certificates must be attached, as incomplete or unclear applications will not be accepted. The decision of the selection committee will be final and legally binding.
