Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Announces ₹50 Lakh For Asian Games Silver Medallist Abhay Singh

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay recently announced a Rs 50 lakh incentive for squash player Abhay Singh after he secured a silver medal in the men’s singles event at the 20th Asian Games in Japan. In a congratulatory statement, Vijay emphasized that the performance brought pride to both Tamil Nadu and India. The state government pledged to award the incentive in recognition of Singh’s accomplishment, expressing hope that his success would inspire young athletes across Tamil Nadu, including aspiring women athletes.

The silver medal adds to Singh’s record at the Asian Games, where he has earned a total of three medals, including a gold in the team event at the Hangzhou Games. Singh and his Indian men’s team defeated Pakistan in the final, and he also won bronze in the mixed doubles event at those Games. Recently, Singh achieved further success by winning the men’s title at the Indian Open earlier this year.

The announcement of the incentive came during Vijay’s first year as Chief Minister, as his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party secured the largest number of seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, winning 108 out of 234 seats. The previously ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) won 59 seats, marking a significant shift in political power.

Vijay highlighted the importance of Singh’s medal beyond the results, stating that the achievement should instill confidence in aspiring athletes and encourage them to strive for excellence in sports. The Rs 50 lakh award is the Tamil Nadu government’s recognition of Singh’s silver medal, while the Chief Minister’s statement underlined Singh’s role as an example for the next generation.

For Singh, the silver medal marks another major international success three years after India’s memorable team victory at the Hangzhou Asian Games.