Sports award prize money to be doubled: MP CM

Bhopal: In a major step towards encouraging sportspersons, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced enhancing the amount carried by state-level sports awards by double.
”The amount carried by Vikram, Vishwamitra and Lifetime Achievement awards will be increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh each. Similarly, the amount for Eklavya award will be enhanced from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000,” said Chouhan.
He was addressing state-level Sports Awards Presentation ceremony at Tatya Tope Nagar Stadium here on the occasion of great hockey player Major Dhyanchand’s birthday today.
The Chief Minister conferred Vikram Award to 10 sportspersons, Eklavya Award to 15 sportspersons and Vishwamitra Award to three coaches on the occasion. Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed post-humously on Sports Administrator Shafqat Mohammad Khan.
The Vikram Awardees included Amit Kumar Pilaniya (Shooting), Gaurav Scindia (Karate), Anjali Koshta (Wooshoo), Vidya Rani (Kyaking), Shalu Raikwar (Taekwondo), Amardeep Basedia (Fencing), Monalisa Chanu (Rowing), Kamal Chawla (Snooker) and Anuya Lonkar (Power lifting).
Those who got Eklavya Award included Ramkrishn Mishra (Canoeing-Kayaking), Shivaji Karale (Karate), Aparajita (Shooting), Praveen Dave (Softball), Manik Dutta (Squash), Aditya Joshi (Badminton), Shikhar Garg (Sailing), Utkrishtdeep Singh (Fencing), Divyansh Manoj Gupta (Wooshoo), Priyanka Soni (Boxing), Rohit Mehta (Horse riding), Abhishek Joshi (Swimming), Arti Khakal (Taekwondo), Puja Raikwar (Rowing) and Kanupriya Awasthi (Roller skating).
Vishwamitra Award was presented to Milind Darp (Softball), Sunita Sankat (Shooting) and Malti Premkumar (Taekwondo).
Commonwealth Games gold medalist Omkar Singh and MP and former Chief Minister Kailiash Joshi were present as special guests.