In an encouraging gesture, Shivam Dube, an all-rounder for the Chennai Super Kings and India, promised to provide Rs 70,000 apiece to ten young athletes from Tamil Nadu. The 31-year-old has received a lot of appreciation for the nice gesture. Alongside CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan, Dube served as the chief guest at the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists' Association's (TNSJA) annual awards and scholarships ceremony in Chennai.

In addition to the Rs 30,000 scholarships that the TNSJA offers the athletes, Dube, a member of the Indian team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup and who is still a vital member of CSK in the IPL 2025, promised this incentive.

“When I was travelling from the team hotel to this venue, Dr Baba (TNCA secretary) told me that it was an effort to help some of the youngsters over here. So, this is truly encouraging for all the young athletes,” Dube said.

“These small things provide them with the extra motivation to strive harder and bring pride to the nation. I have witnessed such initiatives in Mumbai, but I am not certain about other states. I will certainly tell other states also to initiate such programmes,” he added.

Athletes who received the awards:

• PB Abhinandh (Table Tennis)
• KS Vhenisa Sree (Archery)
• Muthumeena Vellasami (Para Athletics)
• Shameena Riaz (Squash)
• Jayant RK (Cricket)
• S Nandhana (Cricket)
• Kamali P (Surfing)
• R Abinaya (Athletics)
• RC Jithin Arjunan (Athletics)
• A Takkshanth (Chess)

Dube further emphasized that although while these sums of money might not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, they provide a crucial boost for athletes who are trying to establish themselves nationally.

“This Rs 30,000 may seem like a small amount, but it serves as encouragement. When you are young, every penny and every award truly matters,” said Dube.

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