By IANS,
Rai (Haryana): It was a day for the players from Haryana to seek assistance from others to walk away with the moolah.
Having earned laurels for the country in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi, the players were Monday honoured by the Haryana government with cash rewards worth Rs.53.4 million (Rs.5.34 crore) before a jam-packed stadium at the Moti Lal Nehru Sports School, Rai near Sonepat.
That was not all.
The 37 players honoured on the occasion drove away with cars from the Maruti stable – SX-4 (worth nearly Rs.800,000), Dzire (worth nearly Rs.700,000) and Wagon-R (worth nearly Rs.350,000).
The cars were given to them as a special gesture by India’s biggest car manufacturer, Maruti Udyog Limited, which has its manufacturing plants at Gurgaon and Manesar in Haryana.
The chief managing director of Maruti-Suzuki company, Shinzo Nakanishi was also present on the occasion.
The players also got Nokia mobile phones and desi ghee, ranging from 31 to 101 kg each, on the occasion.
The CWG gold medal winners from the state walked away with cash rewards of Rs.29.2 million (Rs.2.92 crore). Silver and bronze medallists accounted for another Rs.8 million (Rs.80 lakh) and Rs.4 million (Rs.40 lakh), respectively.
Players who participated from Haryana in the CWG but could not win any medals were also given rewards of Rs.200,000 each, taking away Rs.5.8 million (Rs.58 lakh).
Coaches of medal winners were awarded with Rs.6.4 million (Rs.64 lakh).
Gold medal awardees honoured on the occasion included Geeta, Anita, Yogeshwar Dutt, Rajinder, Sushil Kumar, Ravinder, Sanjay, Anil, Anisa Sayyed, Harpreet Singh, Annuraj Singh, Manoj, Paramjit Samota, Krishna Punia, Saina Nehwal and Gagan Narang.
The awards of Saina Nehwal (badminton) and Vijender Singh (boxing silver) were received by their fathers, Harvir Singh and Mahipal Singh.
Some of the medal winners could not participate at the ceremony as they are training at other locations for the Asian Games later this month. Their awards were given to their representatives.