Stories
Golden Girl Poovamma Gets Grand Welcome in Mangaluru; Urges Govt to Boost Sports Facilities
N
News18•03-10-2026, 11:43
Golden Girl Poovamma Gets Grand Welcome in Mangaluru; Urges Govt to Boost Sports Facilities
- •M.R. Poovamma, who won gold in the Asian Games, received a grand welcome at Mangaluru International Airport.
- •Poovamma expressed joy, stating this was her 6th medal across three Asian Games, feeling proud when the Indian anthem played.
- •She initially expressed disappointment over the lack of immediate government congratulations, though CM and DCM later called.
- •Poovamma highlighted that Karnataka's cash prize for athletes is significantly lower than other states like Haryana.
- •She urged the government to increase cash prizes and improve sports facilities, noting the CM promised to address the prize money.
Key Questions Answered
M.R. Poovamma and her teammates won the gold medal in the 4x400 women's relay event at the Asian Games in Japan, marking her sixth overall medal across three Asian Games.
Poovamma expressed disappointment that Karnataka offers a cash prize of only ₹35 lakh for gold medalists compared to ₹3 crore in states like Haryana. Following her remarks, the Chief Minister promised to increase the cash prize.
For her exceptional sporting achievements, M.R. Poovamma has been honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award and the Ekalavya Award.
