The Uttar Pradesh government has appointed India cricketer Rinku Singh as a Regional Sports Officer. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will present the official appointment letter during a grand felicitation ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Lucknow, recognizing Rinku for his outstanding contributions to Indian cricket.
Rinku was part of the India team that won the T20 World Cup 2026 under captain Suryakumar Yadav. During the recent ICC tournament, the left-handed batter endured personal tragedy. He traveled between matches and Greater Noida while his father, Khanchandra Singh, battled terminal Stage IV cancer.
Rinku Singh Set to Attend UP Appointment Ceremony Amid IPL 2026 Preparations
Rinku Singh is currently preparing for the upcoming IPL 2026 season with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). According to a report by India Today, the franchise management has allowed him to leave the practice camp for a day to attend the government appointment ceremony.
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The 28-year-old has represented the India national cricket team in 45 international matches, scoring 655 runs at an impressive strike rate of 155.73. After his brief visit to Lucknow, Rinku Singh will rejoin KKR ahead of their opening IPL match on Sunday, March 29.
Kolkata Knight Riders will begin their IPL 2026 campaign with an away clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium. The three-time champions will play their first home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Eden Gardens on April 2.
While no official remuneration details have been announced, Regional Sports Officer roles usually fall under standard pay scales. Rinku Singh is expected to earn a basic salary of around ₹35,400, with total earnings between ₹50,000 and ₹60,000 after allowances.
| Rinku Singh – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Performance | |
| Match-wise Stats | |
|
Match |
Runs |
| India vs U.S.A. | 6 |
| India vs Namibia | 1 |
| India vs Pakistan | 11* |
| India vs Netherlands | 6* |
| India vs South Africa | 0 |
Yogi Adityanath to Honour Athletes With Laxman and Rani Laxmibai Awards
During the Lok Bhavan ceremony, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also honor nine exceptional athletes with the prestigious Laxman Award and Rani Laxmibai Award.
Award recipients this year include athletes like hockey player Uttam Singh, gymnast Abhijit Kumar, para-canoeing athlete Yash Kumar, and chess player Vantika Agrawal.
Each award recipient will receive a bronze statue, a certificate of honor, and ₹3.11 lakh in prize money. Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh government will provide financial assistance through the Eklavya Sports Fund to support nineteen developing athletes across the state.
UP Government Rewards Athletes With Key Administrative Roles
Alongside Rinku Singh, the Uttar Pradesh government is rewarding five other international medal-winning athletes with prestigious administrative roles. India men’s hockey star Rajkumar Pal and Paralympic high jump gold medalist Praveen Kumar will be appointed as Deputy Superintendents of Police.
Furthermore, Paralympic javelin throw silver medalist Ajit Singh and Paralympic sprinter Simran will serve as District Panchayat Raj Officers.
Meanwhile, Paralympic sprinter Preetipal has secured an appointment as a Block Development Officer under the Uttar Pradesh International Medal Winner Direct Recruitment Rules established by the state government.
These government appointments ensure long-term financial stability for athletes who bring pride to the country and also motivate younger generations across Uttar Pradesh to pursue professional sports careers.
Also read: 3 players who are SRH’s biggest burden in IPL 2026 – ft Liam Livingstone