Tilayam Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay felicitated medal-winning athletes and chess players in Chennai on Thursday for their performances at the Asian Games and chess Olympiad as part of the state “Dream Olympics 2036” program.
The programme is aimed at developing athletes through financial assistance to encourage them, coaching and sports infrastructure on the long term for a generation of Tamil Nadu athletes to win Olympic gold medals.
The felicitation ceremony was organized by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) in which a number of well-known sports figures (Asian Games medallist Vithya Ramraj, India all-rounder Washington Sundar and chess grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa) were in charge.
The government awarded cash to athletes and chess players for their performance in their competitions.
Under the incentive structure, gold medallists of the Asian Games each received Rs 75 lakh, silver medallists were awarded Rs 50 lakh and bronze medallists Rs 30 lakh. Chess players were also recognised, with male players receiving Rs 15 lakh and female players Rs 10 lakh according to the details provided for the event.
Vithya Ramraj receives Rs 1.55 Crore
Athlete Vithya Ramraj was among those who won three medals - gold, silver and bronze - at the Asian Games in Japan. Her total cash award for her achievements is Rs 1.55 crore.
Ramraj said the Tamil Nadu government appreciated her performance and was supporting athletes. She said the encouragement and financial support given by the state made her want to do better in future contests.
India all-rounder Washington Sundar was also felicitated for his contribution to the Indian team. Chess grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, who has represented India at international competitions, was also among those who were awarded.
The squash veteran Joshna Chinappa, who played in her seventh Asian Games, who made her debut as a 15-year-old in 2002, spoke of her long association with the sport and her passion for representing Tamil Nadu and India. She thanked the Chief Minister and SDAT for supporting athletes in terms of overseas training opportunities and financial assistance.
Chinappa also acknowledged the support of athletes before the Asian Games including financial assistance of Rs 7 lakh to each participant, and welcomed the increase in cash incentives. She said such support had helped athletes prepare and compete at the highest level.
Dream Olympics 2036 scheme Announced
The main point of the event was the launch of the Dream Olympics initiative, which has been designed for long-term support of athletes who want to go through to the 2036 Olympic Games.
Under the scheme, medal-winning athletes from the Asian Games, Para Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Para Commonwealth Games will receive financial assistance for training and preparation. The package will see Rs 50 lakh annually for training support and a monthly salary of Rs 1 lakh.
🚨Big news : CM Vijay launched Dream Olympics 2036 today! 🏅 TN CM launched the initiative today, with plans to identify talent aged 8–18 and support athletes from grassroots to the Olympic stage. Key initiatives: 🔹10 Olympic Centers of Excellence 🔹TN Olympic City, high-performance training facilities & SDAT Olympic Illam in Chennai. 🔹Upgradation of 500 sports grounds and AC facilities in sports hostels. 🔹Flight support and ₹7 lakh incentives for athletes selected for the Olympics and Asian Games. 🔹Olympic medal rewards: 🥇 ₹5 crore | 🥈 ₹3 crore | 🥉 ₹2 crore. For more details, watch the video👇🏾
— Rajesh (@rajeshamlw) October 8, 2026
The assistance is to help athletes pay for elite-level preparation, nutrition, coaching and international exposure. At the same time, the programme aims to minimize the financial strain on athletes’ training and performance.
The initiative is part of Tamil Nadu’s larger push to create a stronger sporting ecosystem. Funding, quality coaching and the ability to be competitive abroad are all important in preparing athletes for big events. It is the scheme’s long-term aim to help young talent develop toward the top.
Focus On Long-Term Athlete Development
The launch is in line with the state government’s stated goal to improve performance in sport in the next decade. Cash incentives are to be given for achievements already achieved but support for athletes in training will continue as they prepare for future competitions.
Most of the notable present were former India Davis Cup Captain Ramesh Krishnan and Olympians V Baskaran, Md Riaz and S Raman. Their presence added to the gathering of athletes and sports personalities who came together to recognise the achievements of Tamil Nadu's sporting community.
For medal winners like Ramraj and Chinappa, the ceremony was a recognition of years of preparation and competition. For younger athletes, the Dream Olympics program might be a structured support mechanism in order to achieve national and international goals.
The achievement of this initiative will depend on how well it is financed, training programmes and infrastructure plans are put in place. With the 2036 Olympics as a key target, Tamil Nadu will expand its support system for athletes and the transition from competitive success to Olympic-level performance will be more regular.
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