Tokyo Olympics 2020: Neeraj Chopra richer by crores as cash rewards pour in after gold medal-Sports News , Firstpost

Neeraj Chopra, of India, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw final. AP

Chandigarh: Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who claimed India’s first-ever track-and-field Olympic medal with a gold-medal winning feat at Tokyo Games, will get a cash reward of Rs 6 crore, Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar said on Saturday.

Khattar also announced that Chopra will be made head of upcoming Centre for Excellence in Athletics in Panchkula.

“As per our sports policy, Neeraj Chopra will get a cash reward of Rs six crore, a Class-I job and a piece of plot of land at concessional rates, said Khattar.

On Saturday, Chopra, who hails from Khandra village in Panipat district, won the country’s seventh medal and first gold in this Olympics, barely an hour after wrestler Bajrang Punia from Sonipat had won a bronze medal.

हरियाणा सरकार द्वारा पंचकूला में 13 अगस्त को एक कार्यक्रम आयोजित कर ओलंपिक में मेडल जीतकर आने वाले हरियाणा के सभी खिलाड़ियों को पुरस्कार वितरित कर उन्हें सम्मानित किया जाएगा। pic.twitter.com/COaWMLpE4X

— CMO Haryana (@cmohry) August 7, 2021

Earlier, wrestler Ravi Dahiya had also made the country and Haryana proud by winning an Olympic silver medal.

Congratulating Chopra and other medal winners, Khattar said: “Today is a golden day in the chapter of our sports history

“It is a big achievement for the country our athletes have made us proud. People of Haryana and the country are happy today at the feat of our sportspersons,” Khattar said.

The Chief Minister said that a grand felicitation function will be held in Panchkula On August 13, in which the players from the state who took part in Tokyo Olympics will be honoured.

“Haryana’s contribution in medal tally is significant. We have 30 players from Haryana in the country’s Olympics contingent.”

He spoke to the parents of Chopra and Punia on Saturday and congratulated them.

In Panchkula, Khattar said the state government is setting up a Centre for Excellence for Athletics and Chopra will be made its head.

“Panipat is his native place and Panchkula is the city where he honed his skills,” he said.

Earlier, he had announced an indoor wrestling stadiums in native village of wrestlers Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia in Sonipat and Jhajjar districts, respectively.

“We have made several announcements to encourage other talented players. We want to make Haryana the biggest sports hub,” said Khattar.

For his bronze medal winning effort, as per the state’s sports policy, Punia will get a cash reward of Rs 2.5 crore, a piece of plot at concessional rates and a state government job.

Earlier, Khattar had praised Dahiya for his effort after he became only the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympics.

Dahiya will get Rs 4 crore prize money, Class-I job and a piece of land of Haryana Shahari Vikas

Pradhikaran at concessional rates as per state government’s policy for winning silver at the Olympics.

The Haryana government will also honour the nine history-making women’s hockey players of the state with cash reward of Rs 50 lakh each, while an equal amount would be given to each sportsperson of the state who stood at the fourth position in any event in the Olympics.

BCCI too announces cash rewards

The BCCI too announced cash rewards for India’s medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics with Rs one crore reserved for Neeraj Chopra, who became country’s first track and field athlete to win a gold medal.

Javelin thrower Chopra secured India’s second individual gold in Olympic history with a sensational performance.

In a tweet, BCCI secretary Jay Shah also announced that Rs 50 lakh each will be given to silver medallists — Mirabai Chanu and Ravi Dahiya.

INR 1 Cr. – medallist @Neeraj_chopra1

50 lakh each – medallists @mirabai_chanu & Ravi Kumar Dahiya

25 lakh each – medallists @Pvsindhu1, @LovlinaBorgohai, @BajrangPunia

INR 1.25 Cr. – @TheHockeyIndia men’s team @SGanguly99| @ThakurArunS| @ShuklaRajiv

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) August 7, 2021

Mirabai Chanu won India’s first weightlifting medal at the Games and Ravi Dahiya became only the second wrestler from the country to win a silver after Sushil Kumar (2012).

The bronze medallists — wrestler Bajrang Punia, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and shuttler P V Sindhu — will get Rs 25 lakh each.

The men’s hockey team which won its first Olympic medal in 41 years will get Rs 1.25 crore.

IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings also announced Rs 1 crore award for Neeraj while Gurugram-based realty firm Elan group announced Rs 25 lakh award for the gold medallist.

With inputs from PTI