TNCC announces Rs 5 lakh incentive to Gomathi Marimuthu

The Tamil Nadu Congress unit Saturday lauded state-based athlete Gomathi Marimuthu for clinching gold in the Asian Athletics Championship held in Qatar and announced a cash incentive of Rs five lakh for her.

The 30-year-old unheralded Gomathi had clocked a personal best time of 2 minute 02.70 seconds in the women's 800m race held in Doha, Qatar on Monday.

TNCC President KS Alagiri said Gomathi had achieved the feat despite hailing from a poor background, with her late father being a labourer, through sheer hardwork.

"She has brought pride to the country and I appreciate her on behalf of Tamil Nadu Congress.

I wish she achieves more such honour and to encourage her a sum of Rs five lakh will be provided to her from the Tamil Nadu Congress Trust," he said in a statement.