On Monday, Manipur’s Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh announced that cash awards would be given to those athletes from the state who win medals at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The announcement was made by the Chief Minister during the launch of “Selfie Point” an initiative to cheer the Indian Olympic contingent at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
N. Biren Singh said a cash award of Rs. 1.2 crore to gold medal winners, Rs. 1 crore for silver medal winners and Rs. 75 lakhs for bronze medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics would be handed over by the state government.
Adding to this, Singh also assured that the state would provide a cash incentive of Rs. 25 lakh to all the five athletes who are representing the country in the Tokyo Olympics.
N. Biren Singh said in a statement, “It is a matter of pride for a small state like Manipur as many as five players are being selected to represent the country in the Olympics. I am that the players will bring laurels and wish them success on behalf of the people of Manipur.”
The five athletes from Manipur shortlisted for the Summer Olympics include the likes of London Olympic Bronze medalist MC Mary Kom, Sushila Likmabam (Judo), Saikhom Mirabai (Weightlifting), Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu and Shanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma (Hockey).