The Haryana Government has announced the appointment of Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik as Wrestling Director at Maharshi Dayanand University in her native town Rohtak.
Announcing this, Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij on Sunday said that she will be given Rs 21 lakh out of his discretionary fund and a plot measuring 500 square yards.
Her coach Mandeep would be given promotion under special rules, Vij said.
The Sports Minister made these announcements while speaking at a function at Rohtak where hockey players--Savita Punia and Poonam Rani and wrestler Virender Singh were also felicitated.
The Haryana Government has, in recognition of her achievement, already felicitated Sakshi Malik, who hails from Rohtak district, with a cash reward of Rs 2.5 cr under its sports policy.
Vij said that during his visit to Rio Olympics, he had met players, coaches and other people of various countries to learn about different aspects of specialities of players and sports. By adopting Haryana's sports model across the country, India could leave countries like the USA behind in terms of medal tally. Therefore, the policy of 'Catch them Young' would have to be adopted," he asserted.
The Minister said, "The State Government has already taken steps in this direction and has decided to open 20 sports nurseries in districts, for which more than 550 applications have been received. Apart from this, the Government has decided to construct a small sports stadium in each village, besides establishing 880 Yogshalas and Vyayamshalas at village level this year," he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Haryana's Minister of State for Cooperation and BJP MlA from Rohtak Manish Kumar Grover announced to give Rs 10 lakh to Sakshi's coach Ishwar Dahiya.