By IANS,
Chandigarh : Abhinav Bindra’s gold haul for the country in the Beijing Olympics has not only brought laurels to the shooter but it is also raining money in plenty for him.
The Punjab government Monday announced a cash reward of Rs.10 million (Rs.1 crore) for the shooter as per its sports policy after Bindra won India’s first individual gold medal in Olympics history. He won the title in the 10-metre air rifle shooting event Monday.
“We in Punjab are proud of Abhinav Bindra’s remarkable feat. We hope that his performance is a morale booster to other youngsters to do well in sports,” Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said.
Though Abhinav has lived and studied mostly in Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, his family is now based at their farmhouse near Zirakpur town in Punjab, 15 km from here.
The neighbouring Haryana government too announced a reward of Rs.2.5 million (Rs.25 lakh) to Abhinav for his feat and the Chandigarh administration announced another cash reward of Rs.500,000 for Abhinav Bindra.
The Madhya Pradesh government also announced a cash prize of Rs.500,000 for the shooter.