NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated the 47th National Junior Boys Handball Championship on Saturday at a government school in Pitampura.The event, organised by the Handball Federation of India (HFI) and the Delhi Handball Association, was attended by HFI President Shri Mahesh Kumar and local officials. Speaking to athletes from across India, the Chief Minister announced a cash prize of ₹1 lakh for the winning team.Rekha Gupta highlighted recent shifts in the capital’s sports policy, noting that allowances for state-level players have been increased to remove financial barriers to training. She reiterated the government’s commitment to nurturing talent from the school level through enhanced financial assistance.Gupta detailed the Delhi Government’s updated prize money structure for international achievements. Under the current policy, international medal winners are eligible for the following awards:

Referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to host the 2036 Olympic Games, the Chief Minister stated that the achievements of young athletes would be instrumental in realising this goal. Quoting cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, she encouraged the participants to “enjoy the game and chase your dreams.”