Haryana doubles cash rewards for Rio

Gohana (Haryana) Aug 26 - After showering cash rewards, luxury cars and other goodies on London Olympics medallists and participants, the Haryana government Sunday said it would double the prize money for medal winners from the state at the 2016 Rio de Janerio Olympics.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said players wining gold, silver and bronze medals in Rio would get double the cash rewards.

A gold medallist will be given Rs.5 crore, a silver medallist Rs.3 crore and a bronze medallist Rs.2 crore, Hooda said at a ceremony Sunday here to honour medallists and participants of the London Olympics.

The prize money for London was Rs.2.5 crore, Rs.1.5 crore and Rs.1 crore for gold, silver and bronze medallists.

Hooda said Olympic participants from Haryana would get Rs.21 lakh for the Rio Games instead of Rs.11 lakh given to the London Olympics participants.

He also announced that the state would give land to wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, badminton player Saina Nehwal, shooter Gagan Narang and boxer Vijender Singh for setting up sports academies.

Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Saina Nehwal and Gagan Narang were also given luxury Audi cars and cash rewards Sunday.

Though Sushil Kumar is from Delhi and Saina Nehwal and Gagan Narang are from Hyderabad, they were included among Haryana medal winners for having family roots in the state.