The Sports and Youth Welfare Department of the Chhattisgarh government is now accepting applications for the State Sports Awards, covering the years 2023-24 and 2024-25. The last date for submitting applications is June 26, 2025. These awards include prestigious recognitions such as the Shaheed Rajiv Pandey, Shaheed Kaushal Yadav, Shaheed Pankaj Vikram, Shaheed Vinod Choubey, and Veer Hanuman Singh Samman. Additionally, the Chief Minister’s Trophy, cash prizes, sports scholarships (diet money), and an incentive fund are part of the awards package. The aim of these awards is to recognize and encourage the exceptional achievements of athletes, coaches, and referees at both the state and national levels. The selection process will consider eligibility, accomplishments, and recommendations from various sports organizations. The Shaheed Rajiv Pandey Award comes with a prize of ₹3 lakh, while the Shaheed Kaushal Yadav and Veer Hanuman Singh Awards each offer ₹1.5 lakh. The Pankaj Vikram and Vinod Choubey Samman carry a prize of ₹25,000, and the Chief Minister’s Trophy offers prize money ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh based on team size. Athletes who have won medals at national/international events, those who have performed well in state-level competitions, and athletes in the sub-junior, junior, and senior categories are eligible to apply. Players applying for diet money must be under the age of 19. Application forms are available on the department’s website at http://sportsyw.cg.gov.in and at district/state sports offices. Applications for the Shaheed Pankaj Vikram Samman must be accompanied by a recommendation from the state sports associations. The deadline for application submission is June 26, 2025, during office hours. Applications can be submitted 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 necessary certificates must be attached with the application. Incomplete or unclear applications will not be accepted, and the selection committee’s decision is final. All eligible athletes, coaches, and sports associations are encouraged to apply before the deadline to be considered for these honors.
