Haryana to honour all 22 Commonwealth Games medal winners from state

The Haryana government will honour all 22 medallists of the 21st Commonwealth Games from the state at a programme on April 26, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced today.

The gold medal winners will get a cash award of Rs 1.5 crore, silver medal winners Rs 75 lakh, and bronze medallists Rs 50 lakh, Khattar said at a public meeting in Siwah village in Panipat district.

The Indian contingent finished third in the medal tally at the Commonwealth Games held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, between April 4 and 15. They won a total of 66 medals, and players from Haryana - especially the women - led the medal tally with a total of 22 individual medals.

Describing Haryana as a hub of sports, Khattar said the state had just 2 per cent of the country's population but its share in the medal tally was 33 per cent. The players have brought laurels at the national and international level with their performance, he added.

In Haryana, he said, a cash award of Rs 6 crore is given to players for winning the gold medal in Olympics, Rs 4 crore for silver medal and Rs 2.5 crore for winning the bronze medal.

In addition, the players are appointed as Haryana Civil Service and Haryana Police Service officers as well as in other government jobs depending on their achievements, he said.

Later today, the chief minister honoured 16-year-old shooter Manu Bhaker of Jhajjar, who won gold medal in Commonwealth Games, with a turban and a cheque of Rs 1.5 crore, in Jhajjar.

He also honoured, Bajrang Punia of Jhajjar, who won gold medal in wrestling and family members of Somveer, who won bronze medal in the Games.

He said that out of 38 players of Haryana who had participated in Commonwealth Games, 22 had won medals.

The remaining 16 participating players would be honoured by the state government be giving away Rs 7.5 lakh to each player, he added.

Khattar said that as per the new sports policy of the state government, it has been ensured that the cash prize is sent directly to the bank accounts of the players.