Ritu Negi Rs 1 Crore Kabaddi Award Row: What Happened and Why

Asian Games gold medallist and Arjuna awardee Ritu Negi has been left out of Himachal Pradesh's list of kabaddi players eligible for a Rs 1 crore cash award, despite being included in an earlier list of recipients and publicly congratulated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The sudden omission has shocked Negi and her family, who have questioned why the veteran India international was excluded after representing the country and Himachal Pradesh for years. The state government has yet to provide a clear explanation for the decision, with Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma saying he would examine the matter.

What is the Ritu Negi cash award controversy?

The controversy centres on Himachal Pradesh's decision to increase its cash award for kabaddi players from Rs 33 lakh to Rs 1 crore each.

Negi's name initially appeared alongside three other Himachal players - team captain Pushpa Rana, Jyoti Thakur and Bhavna Thakur - in a list of eligible recipients. Her name was also included in a congratulatory social media post shared by Sukhu.

However, when the government issued a press release announcing the enhanced award two days before the report was published on October 8, Negi's name was missing.

The abrupt change has raised questions about the criteria used to determine eligibility and why a player previously acknowledged by the state government was subsequently excluded.

Why was Ritu Negi excluded from the 1 crore award?

The Himachal Pradesh government has not publicly established a reason for Negi's exclusion in the information available so far.

Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma said he was unaware of the circumstances behind the decision. He told The Tribune that he would examine the file and consult the Chief Minister.

Negi suspects foul play and plans to meet Sukhu to seek an explanation. However, no evidence establishing deliberate wrongdoing has been presented in the report.

One question raised by Negi's family concerns her marital status. Negi is originally from Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh but is married and lives in Haryana. Her father, Bhawan Singh Negi, questioned whether marriage could have influenced the decision.

He argued that marriage should not alter his daughter's connection to her home state. He also pointed out that she had received Himachal Pradesh's cash award for her gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games despite already being married at the time.

Negi, meanwhile, said she is employed by the Railways and has represented Himachal Pradesh in domestic competitions rather than Haryana.

What has Ritu Negi said about the decision?

Negi expressed shock and disappointment at being removed from the list after receiving public recognition from political leaders.

"I was Himachal's daughter until a week ago," she said, referring to the Chief Minister's congratulatory post and calls from Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and former Union minister Anurag Thakur.

She described the omission as insulting, pointing to the medals she has won for India and her state throughout her career.

"Why is Himachal disowning me at the fag end of my career?" she asked.

Negi acknowledged that she would be eligible for an award from the Haryana government under its sports policy. However, she argued that receiving recognition from Haryana should not automatically disqualify her from a Himachal Pradesh award, particularly given her previous representation of the state.

Why is Ritu Negi's record significant?

Negi is one of the most experienced international players in Indian women's kabaddi. She is the only Indian woman kabaddi player to have represented the country at three consecutive Asian Games, winning two gold medals and one silver.

Her latest gold came at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September 2026, when India defended its women's kabaddi title with a 37-34 victory over Iran in the final.

An Arjuna awardee and former India captain, Negi was part of the team that retained the title it had won at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. After the latest final, she dedicated the medal to the people of India, crediting the support of her family, coaches and supporters.

Her record is central to the controversy because her exclusion has come shortly after another major international achievement, and after the state had initially included her among the award recipients.

What happens next?

Negi plans to meet Chief Minister Sukhu and seek clarification over her removal from the list. The immediate question is whether the government will explain the eligibility criteria, review the decision and establish why her name was omitted from the final announcement.

For now, the reason remains unclear. Goma has said he will examine the file, but no final explanation or decision on Negi's eligibility has been reported.

The dispute has therefore moved beyond the amount of the cash award itself. It has become a question of transparency, consistency in government recognition and whether an athlete's long-standing contribution to her home state has been adequately considered.