J-K: CM Abdullah hands over Rs 2.71 cr cash awards to outstanding athletes

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday presented cash awards totalling Rs 2.71 crore to outstanding sportspersons and international athletes from the Union territory.

Abdullah handed the cash awards to the outstanding athletes at a function held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here, in which Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Satish Sharma, among others, was also present.

Among those felicitated were Owais Yaqoob, the first professional MMA fighter from Kashmir, for his impressive performance at the BRAVE CF 107 event in Bulgaria, and compound para-archer Sheetal Devi, who won gold in the individual open event at the 2025 World Para Archery Championships in South Korea.

Abdullah reaffirmed the government's commitment to nurturing sporting talent, modernising sports infrastructure and empowering the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to excel on national and international stages, officials said.

Talking to reporters after the event, the chief minister said the issue of eligible sportspersons not receiving appointment letters for government jobs will be addressed soon.