MUMBAI: Promises of cash rewards are pouring in for the athletes who won medals at the just concluded Tokyo 2020 Games. The lion’s share is of course going to Neeraj Chopra, who led India’s most successful Olympics campaign ever that delivered one Gold, two Silver and four Bronze medals for a nation starved of Olympic glory.
The 23-year-old, who two years ago underwent surgery on a career-threatening elbow injury, won India’s first ever track-and-field Olympic Gold throwing 87.58 metres in the Tokyo Olympic stadium on Saturday to stun the athletics world and send his country into raptures.
After Chopra secured India’s second individual Gold in Olympic history (Abhinav Bindra took Gold in shooting at the 2008 Beijing Olympics) with a sensational performance, the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab ML Khattar and Amarinder Singh announced cash rewards of Rs 6 crores and 2 crores respectively.
Even Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh got into the act, tweeting, “On this historic day where India bagged an Olympic Gold medal in an athletic event after 100 years, the Manipur State Cabinet has decided to honour the Javelin throw Gold medalist @Neeraj_chopra1 by extending a reward of ?1 Crore. Congratulations on this historic win, Neeraj.”
The BCCI also announced that Rs 1 crore has been reserved for Chopra.
“As per our sports policy, Neeraj Chopra will get a cash reward of Rs 6 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, barely an hour after wrestler Bajrang Punia from Sonipat had won a Bronze medal.
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.”
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 announces cash rewards for Olympic medallists, Chopra to get Rs 1 crore
The BCCI on Saturday announced cash rewards for India’s medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics with Rs 1 crore reserved for Neeraj Chopra, who became country’s first track and field athlete to win a Gold medal.
Later in the day, IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings announced a Rs 1 crore reward for Chopra.
“As a mark of appreciation and honour on his stellar achievement, CSK is awarding Rs 1 Crore to Neeraj Chopra,” CSK said in a statement.
“CSK will be creating a special jersey with the number 8758 as a mark of respect to Neeraj Chopra,” the statement added.
Edtech major BYJU’S on Sunday announced Rs 2 crore cash reward for Neeraj Chopra and Rs 1 crore each for other individual Olympic medal winners at Tokyo 2020
Gurugram-based realty firm Elan Group announced a Rs 25 lakh cash award for Neeraj.
Alongside the cash awards were the announcements that had more of PR / marketing value for various entities looking to get their brands / names on the “Olympic success freight train”.
Some examples:
Khattar announced that Chopra will be made head of the upcoming Centre for Excellence in Athletics in Panchkula. Will the position be waiting for the 23-year-old when he retires from competitive athletics? Unlikely. But that’s when he would really need it (if he were so inclined).
Mahindra and Mahindra to present a new XUV 700 to Neeraj.
IndiGo announced unlimited free travel for one year to Neeraj.
Mirabai Chanu, Silver, 49 kg weightlifting
Chanu lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) in the 49kg category to better Karnam Malleswari’s Bronze in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Chanu was handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore and an appointment letter to the post of Additional Superintendent of Police (Sports) by the Manipur government after she won the first medal for the country in the Tokyo Olympics.
The railway ministry announced a reward of Rs 2 crore and a promotion in her job in the Northeast Frontier Railway.
Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Silver, men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling
Ravi Dahiya became only the second wrestler from the country to win a Silver medal after Sushil Kumar (London 2012).
Wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya will get Rs 4 crore, a Class 1 category government job and a plot of land at 50% concessional rate, the Haryana government has announced.
Additionally, an indoor wrestling stadium equipped with modern facilities will be built in Ravi Dahiya’s village, Nahari.
Lovlina Borgohain, Bronze, Women’s welterweight·Boxing
Assam announces a cash award of Rs 50 lakhs and a Grade 1 government job to Lovlina, as per Assam Sports Policy.
The Indian men’s hockey team, Bronze
The Indian men’s hockey team won a medal after 41 years at Olympics, defeating Germany with 5-4 for a Bronze.
The Haryana government announced Rs 2.5 crore for each male hockey player from the state, Rs 50 lakh for each woman.
The Punjab government announced that state hockey players would get Rs 1 crore each.
Bajrang Punia, Bronze, men’s 65kg freestyle wrestling
Bajrang Punia defeated Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov with a score of 8-0 to win the Bronze medal in men’s freestyle 65kg wrestling at Tokyo Olympics
The Haryana government announced Rs 2.5 crore, government job For Bajrang Punia after Olympics win.
PV Sindhu, Bronze, women’s badminton
PV Sindhu created history by winning the Bronze medal match against China’s He Bing Jiao at the Tokyo Olympics. She won the crucial encounter 21-13, 21-15 to become the first Indian woman ever to win two individual Olympic medals. She had lost the final of the women’s singles event at the 2016 Rio Olympics to settle for a Silver medal.
Andhra Pradesh announced Rs 30 lakh cash award to PV Sindhu.
PR Sreejesh, Bronze, men’s hockey
The Indian men’s hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh stood rock solid in front of the goalpost in India’s Bronze medal winning effort.
UAE-based Indian entrepreneur Dr Shamsheer Vayalil has announced a cash reward of Rs 1 crore to the Kerala star.
While many organizations, having declared cash awards for the hockey team, individually, this is the largest cash prize that has been announced for Sreejesh till date.
List of state government rewards promised for Tokyo Olympics medal winners
Delhi
Rs 3 crore for Gold, Rs 2 crore for Silver and Rs 1 crore for Bronze. There is also prize money of Rs 10 lakh for the coach who helped and supported the player in winning the coveted medal.
Haryana
Rs 6 crore for Gold, Rs 4 crore for Silver and Rs 2.50 crore for Bronze.
Uttar Pradesh
Rs 6 crore for Gold, Rs 4 crore for Silver and Rs 2 crore for Bronze.
Rs 10 lakh to all participants from the state at the Tokyo Olympics.
Odisha
Rs 6 crore for Gold, Rs 4 crore for Silver and Rs 2.50 crore for Bronze.
Rs 15 lakh to all participants from the state at the Tokyo Olympics.
Chhattisgarh
Rs 6 crore for Gold
Jharkhand
Rs 2 crore for Gold, Rs 1 crore for Silver and Rs 75 lakhs for Bronze.
Maharashtra
Rs 1 crore for Gold, Rs 75 lakh for Silver and Rs Rs 50 lakhs for Bronze.
Andhra Pradesh
Rs 2 crore for Gold, Rs 1 crore for Silver and Rs 75 lakhs for Bronze.
Rs 5 lakh to all participants from the state at the Tokyo Olympics.
Gujarat and Karnataka
Rs 5 crore for Gold, Rs 3 crore for Silver and Rs 2 crore for Bronze.
Himachal Pradesh
Rs 2 crore for Gold, Rs 1 crore for Silver and Rs 50 lakh for Bronze.
Manipur
Rs 1.2 crore for Gold, Rs 1 crore for Silver and Rs 75 lakh for Bronze.
Rs 25 lakh to all participants from the state at the Tokyo Olympics.
Mizoram
The state government will provide a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh to Lalremsiami Lalrindiki for participating at the Tokyo Olympics.
Punjab
Rs 2.25 crore for Gold, Rs 1.5 crore for Silver and Rs 1 crore for Bronze.
Rs 5 lakh to all participants from the state at the Tokyo Olympics.
Rajasthan
Rs 3 crore for Gold, Rs 2 crore for Silver and Rs 1 crore for Bronze.
Tamil Nadu
Rs 3 crore for Gold, Rs 2 crore for Silver and Rs 1 crore for Bronze.
West Bengal
Rs 25 lakh for Gold, Rs 15 lakh for Silver and Rs 10 lakh for Bronze.
Chandigarh
Rs 6 crore for Gold, Rs 4 crore for Silver and Rs 2 crore for Bronze.
Union Government
Rs 75 lakh to the Gold medallists, Rs 50 lakh for the Silver and Rs 30 lakhs to the Bronze medallists.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
Rs 75 lakh to the Gold medallists, Rs 40 lakh for the Silver and Rs 25 lakhs to the Bronze medallists.
Rs 1 lakh to each athlete in the Indian contingent to Tokyo Olympics.
The coaches of Gold medal winners promised Rs 12.5 lakh, of silver winners Rs 10 lakh and of Bronze medallists Rs 7.5 lakh.
