Punjab to honour state medal winners with cash prize

Punjab government today said it will honour 3,726 players with a cash prize worth Rs 15 crore for earning laurels to the state by bagging medals in national and international sports events during 2011 to 2015.
This was decided in a departmental meeting held by the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds sports portfolio.
"Badal would give away cash awards to the tune of Rs 9 crore to 308 international medallists during a function at Ludhiana on July 16 that would include medalists in different World Cups, Asian championships, Commonwealth championships and national games," a spokesperson said.

"In addition to this, prize distribution functions would also be organized in various districts in which cabinet ministers and Chief Parliamentary Secretaries would honour the players.
"On the directions of Deputy Chief Minister, the sports department has started to bestow honour to the medal winners in senior national competitions, national school games, inter-university games and senior state championships including Paralympics," he said.
After inviting applications from medallists in various international and national sports events, sports department has selected 831 players in 2010-11, 518 in 2011-12, 745 in 2012-13 and 1,470 in 2013-14 and 2014-15 for cash prizes.

"Besides, 164 medalists were also selected who have earned laurels in various national games," he said.

The spokesman, however, made it clear that those players who were found positive in dope tests were declared ineligible for cash prizes.
Punjab government has decided to include Net Ball and Kho-Kho game in sports policy from next year.