AAC: Odisha CM felicitates Indian medal winners with cash awards

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today at a special function here felicitated the Indian athletes with cash awards who won medals at the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships (AAC)-2017 held at the Kalinga Stadium here from July 6 to 9.

The gold medal winners were awarded with Rs 10 lakh each, silver medalists with Rs 7.5 lakh each and bronze medalists with Rs 5 lakh each.

An announcement in this regard was made by the Chief Minister during the closing ceremony of the athletics meet yesterday.

“All of us are extremely proud and delighted that India not only topped the medals table but also registered its highest ever medal tally as well as the highest ever haul of gold medals in the 44 year history of Asian Athletics Championships. My heartiest congratulations to all the medal winners, the entire Indian contingent, the Athletics Federation of India and everyone associated with athletics in the country on this proud achievement,” Patnaik said.

“I would also like to convey my best wishes to those who shall be participating in the World Athletics Championships in London next month,” he said.

Among others, state sports minister Chandra Sarathi Behera and Adille Sumariwalla, president, Athletics Federation of India were present on the occasion.

Worth mentioning, India took the top spot in the medal standings with 12 gold, 5 silver and 12 bronze.

This is the best performance by Indian athletes at the Asian Championships so far. Their previous best finish was in the last edition in 2013 at Wuhan, China, where they finished third with 4 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze.