After ending Tokyo Olympics on a record high of seven medals, their best showing at the Games ever, it is now raining awards on Indian athletes. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a cash award of Rs one crore for Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra while the Punjab government will also be giving a 'special cash reward' of Rs two crore to the javelin thrower who made history in Tokyo on Saturday.
Even as the India-England Test match was on at the Trent Bridge, cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar, who are doing the commentary duties during the series, were hooked on Chopra's competition on television in the studios. Just as the 23-year-old was confirmed of getting the gold, India's first ever in athletics, Gavaskar and co-commentators including former players Ajay Jadeja and Ashish Nehra, broke into a jig singing "mere desh ki dharti sona ugle, ugle heeray moti", a famous Bollywood song from the yesteryears.
We all are Sunil Gavaskar at the moment 🇮🇳🙌🏽
How did you react to India's golden moment? 😍#HumHongeKamyab #Tokyo2020 #SirfSonyPeDikhega pic.twitter.com/vg8FmQ2fG9
— Sony Sports (@SonySportsIndia) August 7, 2021
BCCI secretary Jay Shah also announced Rs 50 lakh each for silver medallists Mirabai Chani and Ravi Kumar Dahiya; Rs 25 lakh each for bronze medallists PV Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain and Bajrang Punia and Rs 1.25 crore to the men's hockey team who had won the first Olympic medal in the sport (a bronze) since the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
"India shines brighter today because of you, Neeraj. Your javelin carried the tricolour all the way and made it flutter with the pride of every Indian. What a moment for Indian sport," tweeted Sachin Tendulkar.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said Chopra, who is serving in the Indian Army, has brought glory to the nation and scripted his name in history by winning India’s first Olympic gold in athletics.
"It's our honour to announce a special cash reward of Rs. 2 Cr for him. A proud moment for all Indians & our Armed Forces," tweeted Amarinder.
Haryana, from where Chopra hails, has also announced that, as per their cash reward policy for the medal winners at the Olympics, Chopra will be getting a cash reward of Rs 6 crore.
"As per our sports policy, Neeraj Chopra will get a cash reward of Rs six crore, a Class-I job and a plot at concessional rates," said Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar.
The CM said that even though Chopra is from Panipat, he had spent a lot of time in Panchkula while studying in Chandigarh.
"We are setting up a Centre for Excellence in athletics in Panchkula and he (Chopra) will be heading it," said Khattar.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also congratulated Chopra on his superb showing in Tokyo.
"The Golden victory of Subedar Neeraj Chopra at the Olympic brings laurels for the Indian Army. He performed like a true soldier at the Olympics. It is indeed a historic and proud moment for the entire country including the Indian Armed Forces! Many congratulations to him," Rajnath tweeted.
