Rinku Singh Likely to Be Appointed UP Government’s Regional Sports Officer

India Cricketer Rinku Singh Set for UP Govt Role as Regional Sports Officer

India cricketer Rinku Singh is set to be appointed as a Regional Sports Officer (RSO) by the Uttar Pradesh government, as a reward for his outstanding performances and dedication to the national team.

Rinku was part of India’s triumphant campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where the team lifted the title under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.

Despite his on-field success, Rinku endured a challenging personal phase during the tournament. He frequently travelled between team duties and Greater Noida, where his father was undergoing treatment for Stage IV cancer before his passing.

The move comes under the state government’s broader incentive scheme aimed at recognising athletes who have excelled at national and international levels. The initiative includes government jobs, financial rewards, and prestigious honours.

Among other beneficiaries, Rajkumar Pal—a member of India’s bronze medal-winning hockey team at the Paris Olympics—will be appointed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). He hails from Ghazipur.

The government will provide jobs to six international medal-winning athletes in total. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will distribute appointment letters at a felicitation ceremony at Lok Bhavan.

Paralympic gold medallist Praveen Kumar (high jump, Gautam Buddh Nagar) will also be appointed as DSP, while silver medallist Ajit Singh (Etawah) will take up the role of District Panchayat Raj Officer.

Paralympic bronze medallist Simran (200m, Ghaziabad) will also be appointed as District Panchayat Raj Officer. Meanwhile, Preetipal (Muzaffarnagar), who won two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m events, will be appointed as a Block Development Officer (BDO).

At the ceremony, nine athletes will be honoured with the Lakshman Award and the Rani Lakshmibai Award for 2024–25. Each award carries a cash prize of ₹3.11 lakh along with a bronze statuette.

Additionally, a total cash reward of ₹1.64 crore will be distributed among 14 athletes, while 19 players will receive financial assistance worth ₹8.75 lakh under the Eklavya Sports Fund.

Several athletes across disciplines—including hockey, athletics, mountaineering, wrestling, shooting, gymnastics, and para sports—feature among the awardees, reflecting the state’s push to support sporting excellence at all levels.