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Reiterating his government’s commitment to promote sports in the State, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday (October 27) said the government has already issued appointment orders to 11 sportspersons in the police department under the enhanced quota of 3%. He was speaking after inaugurating Chief Minister’s Mangalore India International Challenge-2025, organised by Dakshina Kannada Badminton Association at Urwa Indoor Stadium. Mr. Siddaramaiah said the government had increased the quota from 2% to 3% for sportspersons in the police department for posts of deputy superintendents of police and below. In line with its promise, the government has already appointed 11 sportspersons, he added. Mr. Siddaramaiah reiterated his earlier promises of training 60 sportspersons for the Olympics by spending up to ₹10 lakh per person. The government had also enhanced the cash award for Olympic winners to ₹6 crore for gold medallists, ₹4 crore for silver medallists, and ₹3 crore for bronze medallists, he said. Besides the cash award, the medallists are assured of a government job, he said. Speaking about the Urwa Indoor Stadium, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he was the one who had laid the foundation stone during his earlier stint as the Chief Minister and inaugurated the completed stadium recently. “I had set aside ₹35 crore for the stadium. The BJP government then reduced the cost to ₹20 crore. It also did not complete the project. Upon returning to power, I sanctioned an additional ₹15 crore and got the stadium completed,” he said, urging sportspersons in the region to utilise the facility to the fullest. Congratulating Dakshina Kannada Badminton Association for hosting a first-ever international sports event in Mangaluru, Mr. Siddaramaiah added that he hopes the region will produce more international sports personalities. He also extended Kannada Rajyotsava wishes in advance. District Minister in charge Dinesh Gundu Rao said the government intends to promote sports in a big way in the region. There is great potential to promote sports combining the region’s tourism and cultural potential, he said. Karnataka State Badminton Association President Manoj Kumar urged Mr. Siddaramaiah to sanction at least three acres of land around Bengaluru to establish a state-of-the-art badminton coaching centre for the State. Dakshina Kannada Association President Santhosh Kumar Alva, Secretary Suprith Alva, and others were present.
