Pune: Pimpri-Chinchwad Resumes Athlete Adoption Scheme; 44 Players to Get Rs 6,000 Monthly Support
Pimpri, 2nd October 2025: After a gap of five years, Pimpri-Chinchwad athletes will once again benefit from the Municipal Corporation’s Athlete Adoption Scheme. Out of 58 applicants, 44 have been found eligible and will receive a monthly stipend of ₹6,000 each for two years.
Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh has approved the Standing Committee’s proposal to release ₹74 lakh from the sports department’s budget for this initiative. The scheme, which had been discontinued in 2020, is now being revived to encourage national- and international-level athletes from the city.
The adoption scheme was originally launched in 2013 with the aim of nurturing young talent, promoting sports culture in Pimpri-Chinchwad, and helping athletes make a mark at state, national, and international levels. However, due to the pandemic and other administrative reasons, benefits were not provided after 2020, despite applications being invited every year. This had caused frustration among athletes.
In 2024, the sports department invited applications for the 2022-23 financial year. A total of 58 players applied, out of which 44 were shortlisted. The remaining 14 applications were rejected due to incomplete documentation, such as missing mark sheets or ration cards.
Deputy Commissioner of Sports Pankaj Patil confirmed that the selected athletes will begin receiving payments shortly. “Each eligible player will get ₹6,000 per month for two years. The scheme will ensure financial assistance for athletes so they can focus on their game,” he said.
The scheme is open to players who are residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad for at least three years, including both municipal and private school students. Eligible athletes are those who have represented at state, school, college, or national-level tournaments in sports such as hockey, kabaddi, wrestling, boxing, shooting, kho-kho, lawn tennis, badminton, swimming, roller skating, and cricket.
In addition to financial assistance, selected players under the adoption scheme will also receive free PMPML bus travel, healthy food allowance, and sports equipment as per their requirements.
