Bengaluru
Asian Games-bound Karnataka athletes Yashas Palaksha and SS Sneha have appealed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to intervene after they were left out of the state government’s flagship annual incentive scheme for Olympic preparation despite their recent international and national achievements.
The two athletes strengthened their credentials at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships, with 400m hurdler Yashas clinching gold and sprinter Sneha winning silver in their respective events to qualify for the upcoming Asian Games.
Yashas, who also secured a place in India’s Commonwealth Games squad after clocking 49.00 seconds to become the country’s fastest active 400m hurdler, expressed confidence that the new Chief Minister, himself a former athlete, would address their concerns.
“Our new CM Shivakumar sir is a former athlete too. Since he has taken charge, I believe he can do something for the betterment of athletes in the state,” Yashas said.
The 24-year-old from Tumakuru, who serves as a Havildar in the Indian Army, edged Tamil Nadu’s Santhosh T in a thrilling photo finish to claim the national title in 49.14 seconds.
The state government’s elite athlete support programme provides selected sportspersons with financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh annually for three years to aid preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. However, despite their performances, Yashas and Sneha were excluded from the list of beneficiaries.
Sneha, 28, recently returned from China after winning a gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay at the Asian Relay Championships before finishing second in the women’s 100m final at the National Inter-State Championships in 11.65 seconds, behind Maharashtra’s Sudeshna Shivankar.
Frustrated over their omission, both athletes had sought a No Objection Certificate from the Karnataka Athletics Association to switch allegiance to another state. They eventually withdrew the request after discussions with officials.
“I gave up after trying all I could to get into the list, but there’s fresh hope now. With the change at the top, I believe CM Shivakumar will do us justice,” Sneha said.
The athletes believe financial backing is crucial to sustaining high-performance training and international exposure ahead of major global events. With Asian Games qualification secured and preparations for the Commonwealth Games and Los Angeles Olympics gathering pace, they hope the Karnataka government will reconsider their inclusion and extend the support needed to help them compete successfully on the world stage.
