BHUBANESWAR: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced on Thursday that his government will sponsor Asian Games 2018 Silver medallist Dutee Chand for her training keeping the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in mind, Press Trust of India reports.
The 22-year-old Chand has won two Silver medals in the 100 m and 200 m categories, heralding a new era of athletics in the country. As a result, Patnaik has declared an additional cash prize of Rs 15 million, doubling the amount that the government had promised a few days earlier to reward her with.
The developments come after two sports bodies in the state – Odisha Athletics Association (OAA) and Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) have already announced Rs 50,000 each for the star sprinter, who hails from the Jajpur district.
She has created history in athletics of Odisha by winning two medals in a single Asian Games, OAA secretary Asirbad Behera said.
