By IANS,
New Delhi : Cash awards to the tune of Rs.16.5 million have flowed in for India’s latest sporting icon Sushil Kumar.
After Abhinav Bindra shot India’s maiden Olympic gold medal last week, Delhi wrestler Sushil added a second medal to India’s kitty by winning the bronze in the men’s freestyle (66kg) event at the Beijing Games Wednesday.
It was first the turn of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit to announce a cash award of Rs.5 million and she was followed by Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill who announced Rs. 2 million for the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) employee.
“It is a great achievement by Sushil. He is the new icon for Delhi and I will give him a cash award of Rs.5 million. His coach Satpal will also get promotion,” Dixit told a TV channel.
Ram Vilas Paswan, minister of chemicals, fertilizers and steel, came up with Rs.1.5 million award for Sushil. Not to be left behind, Railways minister Lalu Prasad announced Rs.5.5 million and the Haryana Government Rs.2.5 million.
Paswan added: “Two years back, we decided to promote two sportspersons and Sushil was one of them. We have always supported him and I am happy that he has done the country proud. We will have a grand reception for him. I have also asked the SAIL Chairman to give him a promotion.”
Sushil’s bronze comes after 56-years when wrestler Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav gave India its first ever individual Olympic medal. Jadhaav also won the bronze in the Freestyle Bantamweight class in the 1952 Helsinki Games.
This is the first time after 1952 that India have won two medals in a particular edition of the Olympics.