Punjab govt. gives cash award of Rs 7.48 cr to sportspersons

Chandigarh, Feb 4 (PTI) The Punjab government todayhonoured its sportspersons who have won medals at Asian Games,Commonwealth Games and other international events with the aimto motivate them for the 2012 London Olympics.

Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy SukhbirSingh Badal gave cash prizes worth Rs 7.58 crore to over 50athletes.

Seventeen Commonwealth Games medallists got Rs 2.58crore while as many Asian Games medallists were awarded Rs 3crore.

Ronjan Sodhi, who won one gold and one bronze medal atthe Asian Games and two silver at the Delhi Games, took homea cash award of Rs 95 lakh, while athletes Manjit Kaur andMandeep Kaur won Rs 48 and 43.50 lakh, respectively.

Shooters Manavjit Singh Sandhu was richer by Rs 58.66lakh, Abhinav Bindra by Rs 43 lakh and Heena Sidhu took homeRs 48.33 lakh.

As per the state''s sports policy, any player winning anindividual or team gold in Olympics will be awarded Rs 2.25crore. The silver and bronze medallists would take home Rs1.01 crore and Rs 51 lakh, respectively.

The gold, silver and bronze winners at Asian Gamesbe awarded Rs 26 lakh, 16 lakh and 11 lakh and CommonwealthGames medallists would win Rs 16 lakh, Rs 11 lakh and Rs 6lakh respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Badal said the government wasfully alive to its responsibility to nurture, facilitate andencourage sportspersons who bring laurels and glory to thestate and the country by winning medals at national andinternational levels.

He said that the presentation of cash incentives toeminent sportspersons was an expression of appreciation andgratitude of the state to them.