Nantou County plans to increase sports scholarships and bursaries, and the maximum bonus for Asian Games medalists will be raised to 500,000 yuan

Nantou County karate players Shi Zhengzhong and Hong Zhixuan won bronze medals at the Nagoya Asian Games. (Provided by Nantou County Sports Association Karate Committee)

Athletes from Nantou Prefecture performed outstandingly in karate, taekwondo, rowing and women's softball at the "2026 Nagoya Asian Games". Nantou County Magistrate Xu Shuhua attended the county council’s general inquiry today (29th) and said that in order to strengthen the incentives for retaining talents and stabilize the capacity of grassroots coaches, the county government is working on amending the "Nantou County Sports Scholarship and Bursary Setting Method" by increasing individual rewards for important events, expanding rewards for outstanding coaches, and increasing team competition bonuses. The changes will be implemented after the revision is approved.

Xu Shuhua pointed out that since the method was revised in December 2023, the prize money for the top three in the Asian Olympics and International Championships has been significantly increased from the original 50,000 yuan, 30,000 yuan, and 20,000 yuan to 300,000 yuan, 200,000 yuan, and 100,000 yuan. After the implementation of future revisions, the prize money for the top three in 2027 will be increased to 500,000 yuan, 200,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan; the prize money for the top three in individual competitions at the National and National Games will also be increased to 350,000 yuan, 200,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan. At the same time, the county government has simultaneously increased the coaching bonuses for the National Games, the National Democracy Games, the All-China Games and the All-Original Games, and has canceled the original bonus discounts for team competitions, and will pay them according to the individual competitions, hoping to allow more county athletes to shine in the domestic and international sports circles.

In response to the upgrade of incentive measures, the total sports bonus budget of Nantou County will also be adjusted accordingly. The budget for even-numbered years in the year when the National Games is held will be increased from the current 39 million yuan to 60 million yuan; in odd-numbered years in the year when the National Democracy Games is held, the budget will be increased from 22 million yuan to 36 million yuan to comprehensively create the most solid backing to retain outstanding sports talents for the local area.