Category: News
Himachal Pradesh is launching a new state-wide sports campaign, Khelo Himachal, in Dharamshala on 20 November 2026. The campaign will run multi-tier tournaments in cricket, volleyball and kabaddi for young people aged 15 to 30, with matches at sub-divisional, district and state levels. The top state team will win ₹21 lakh.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the campaign’s official website and mascot at a state-level function on 31 October 2026, where he also presented the Him Ratna-2026 Awards to 419 outstanding sportspersons, distributing cash rewards worth ₹17.85 crore.
Bigger cash rewards for medal winners
The state government has sharply increased the prize money for sportspersons:
| Event | Earlier reward | New reward |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic / Paralympic gold | ₹3 crore | ₹5 crore |
| Asian Games gold | ₹50 lakh | ₹4 crore |
Team event medalists will now receive at least 25 percent of the total prize pool, and national-level coaches and international referees will be recognised with incentives of ₹3 lakh each.
Youth Services and Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma said the state is committed to nurturing sporting talent despite limited resources, and to securing the financial future of athletes.
What the Khelo Himachal campaign offers
- Three sports: cricket, volleyball and kabaddi.
- Age group: 15 to 30 years.
- Levels: sub-divisional, district and state tournaments.
- Top prize: ₹21 lakh for the best state team.
- Start: Dharamshala, 20 November 2026.
The campaign is aimed at young people in every district, including those in rural and remote areas who rarely get a chance to play at state level. Details of registration and the tournament schedule will be announced by the Youth Services and Sports Department.
A new indoor stadium at Nadaun
The Chief Minister also announced that a modern indoor stadium is being built at Nadaun in Hamirpur district at an estimated cost of ₹170 crore. It will cater to 14 sports with world-class facilities.
Special athletes honoured too
At a separate function, Governor Kavinder Gupta honoured Himachal’s special athletes, including Shalini, Anil Kumar, Aakriti, Giridhar and Hemchand, who won medals at the World Winter Games in Turin, and praised Shivanjali and Shubham for their performances. The Governor also celebrated Diwali with children with special abilities at the Institute for Children with Special Ability in Dhalli, Shimla, and at the Deepawali Fest 2026 in Sundernagar, Mandi district, organised by Special Olympics Bharat, Himachal Pradesh.
Source: Keekli report on the Khelo Himachal launch, 31 October 2026; Public Updates 24 report on the Governor’s Deepawali Fest address, 4 November 2026.
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