Punjab Government on Sunday announced to honour its 3,726 outstanding players with cash prizes worth Rs15 crore, who have earned laurels to the state by bagging medals in various international and national sports events since the year 2011 to 2015.
The decision was taken in a departmental meeting presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who also holds sports portfolio.
"Deputy Chief Minister has already felicitated 28 international medallists in November last with total cash awards of Rs5.43 crore who have won medals in Glasgow Commonwealth Games-2014 and Incheon Asian games-2014," said a spokesperson.
It was also decided that Sukhbir would gave away cash awards to the tune of Rs nine crore to 308 international medal winners during a prize distribution function at ludhiana on July 16 that included medallists in different World Cups, Asian championships, Commonwealth championships and national games.
In addition, prize distribution functions would also be organized in various districts in which cabinet ministers and Chief Parliamentary Secretaries would honour the players.
"On the directions of Deputy Chief Minister, the sports department has started to bestow honour to the medal winners in senior national competitions, national school games, inter-university games and senior state championships including Paralympics," he said.
Sports department has invited applications from medal winners since 2011 to 2015 in various international and national sports events.
After evaluating their achievements, department has selected 831 players eligible in 2010-11, 518 in 2011-12, 745 in 2012-13 and 1,470 in 2013-14 and 2014-15 (two years) for cash prizes.
Besides, 164 medallists were also selected who have earned laurels in various national games.
Spokesperson made it clear that those players who were found positive in dope tests were declared ineligible for cash prizes.
Punjab Government has decided to include Netball and Kho-Kho game in sports policy from the next year thereby enabling the winners for cash prizes in coming year.