The Telangana government Wednesday announced cash award of Rs.50 lakh to Parupalli Kashyap for winning the gold medal in men's badminton singles at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games at Glasgow.
The government also announced Rs.25 lakh for silver medalists and Rs.15 lakh for bronze medalists from the state. Every participant from the state will receive Rs.3 lakh each.
It also declared cash award of Rs.50 lakh each to badminton coaches Pullela Gopichand and Mohammed Arif.
The medal winners will be felicitated during the Independence Day celebrations, announced state minister K. Tarakarama Rao after the medalists met Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
Jwala Gutta who along with Ashwini Ponnappa won the silver medal in women's doubles, R.V. Gurusaidutt and P.V. Sindhu, who won bronze medals, and ace shooter Gagan Narang who bagged a silver and bronze also called on the chief minister. He presented them bouquets and shawls. Gymnastic player Aruna Reddy was also present.
The medalists were also accompanied by India's top woman shuttler Saina Nehwal.
The chief minister announced that the government will give her a cash award for winning the bronze medal at the London Olympics in 2012.
Saina recently expressed unhappiness over not receiving the Rs.50 lakh cash award announced by the then Andhra Pradesh government.
After meeting the chief minister, Saina said she was happy over the chief minister's announcement.
She and other medalists praised the chief minister for showing keen interest in sports.
Chandrasekhar Rao also wanted the sportspersons to participate in various social programmes to be taken up in the newly-created state.
"I feel encouraged over the keen interest he is taking in promoting sports," said Kashyap.
"He spoke so much about sports. He has a positive attitude," said Jwala Gutta.
Gopichand said the chief minister took many inputs from them. He hoped this would go a long way in encouraging sportspersons in the state.
