Date:06/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010652381800.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Gold to fetch Rs. 2 lakh

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government has announced a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh to the gold medal winners of the 34th National Games to be held in Jharkhand from February 15 to 28.

The silver medallists will get Rs. 1.5 lakh and the bronze medal winners would be given Rs. 1. lakh. This was decided at a meeting of the steering committee constituted by the Government for the purpose of preparing the Kerala contingent to take part in the Games.

The meeting was chaired by Sports Minister M. Vijayakumar and attended by the KSSC president, T.P. Dasan, secretary, G. Kishore, Olympian Suresh Babu and the KOA president, M.M. Abdul Rehman among others.

The meeting also decided to convene a meeting of the officials of the State sports associations here on January 9 to discuss and prepare a detailed programme for the preparation of the various teams and participation in the Games. Kerala has qualified to compete in 19 disciplines and is likely to send a contingent of over 375.

It was also decided to hold a 21-day coaching camp for the qualified teams from January 22. The meeting also decided to invite prominent athletes working in other States and institutions to represent Kerala in the Games.