LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has announced hefty cash awards for sportspersons from the state who will bag medals in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
A government spokesperson said sportspersons from UP winning a gold medal in the Olympics will be awarded Rs 6 crore while silver and bronze medalists will get Rs 4 crore and Rs 2 crore, respectively. Besides, all the participants from UP, irrespective of their performance, will be given Rs 10 lakh each.
For players participating in team events, Rs 3 crore each has been announced for gold medal winners and Rs 2 crore and Rs 1 crore, respectively, for silver and bronze medalists.
“Under the Khoob Khelo, Khoob Badho Mission, the state government is making all necessary arrangements for better training of players. The government is leaving no stone unturned for their proper training and encouragement. Special coaches have been appointed for their training. Besides improving the condition of hostels, the government is constructing new stadiums in the state,” the spokesperson said.
“During the last four years of the Yogi Adityanath government, 44 hostels were set up for 890 players of various sports in 19 districts. The amount for sports kit has also been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500,” he added.
Sportspersons from UP who are participating in the Olympic Games are Priyanka Goswami, Annu Rani, Seema Punia from Meerut, and Shivpal Singh from Chandauli (all athletics), Saurabh Chaudhary from Meerut and Meraj Ahmed Khan from Bulandshahr (both shooting), Satish Kumar from Bulandshahr (boxing), Arvind Singh from Bulandshahr (rowing), Vandana Kataria from Meerut and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay from Varanasi (hockey).
