Dasara Sports Meet kicks off in Mysuru with enhanced prize money for medallists

The state-level Dasara Sports Meet, known as the CM Cup 2026, opened at Chamundi Vihar Indoor Stadium in Mysuru with Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara presiding over the inauguration ceremony.

Organized by the Department of Youth Empowerment & Sports and the Sports Authority of Karnataka, the meet features over 26 sporting disciplines with athletes competing from districts across the state. The event honored Asian Games medallist Pranavi Urs and Commonwealth Games medallist K.S. Shilpa during the opening ceremony.

Dr. Parameshwara highlighted the government's commitment to supporting athletes, announcing significantly increased prize money for international medallists. Gold medallists now receive Rs. 1 crore, up from the previous Rs. 35 lakh, while silver and bronze medallists receive Rs. 75 lakh and Rs. 50 lakh respectively, compared to earlier amounts of Rs. 25 lakh and Rs. 15 lakh.

During the ceremony, Commonwealth Games medallist Shilpa raised concerns about prize money distribution and received assurance that suitable incentives would be considered for her case. The Deputy CM emphasized that the meet serves as a platform for athletes to demonstrate their abilities beyond mere competition.

Several officials attended the inauguration, including Minister C. Puttarangashetty, Sports Authority of Karnataka Vice-Chairman C.S. Arun Machaiah, MLAs Tanveer Sait, D. Ravishankar, and Anil Chikkamadu, Karnataka Olympic Association President Dr. K. Govindaraj, and DYES Principal Secretary Naveen Raj Singh, among others.