Asian Games: Akhilesh Yadav announces Rs 50 lakh cash reward for Seema Punia

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday announced a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh for discus thrower Seema Punia, who won a gold at Asian Games 2014 on the third day of athletics competitions.

Asian Games: Akhilesh Yadav announces Rs 50 lakh cash reward for Seema Punia

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday announced a cash reward of Rs 50 lakh for discus thrower Seema Punia, who won a gold at Asian Games 2014 on the third day of athletics competitions.

The news was confirmed by Akhilesh Yadav's official account on social micro-blogging site Twitter.

 

Despite facing a strong challenge from two Chinese rivals, Seema, who hails from Meerut, clinched the gold with a best throw of 61.03m in the women's discus throw final. Her team-mate Krishna Poonia finished fourth with a below par 55.57m at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium. Seema, who missed out on previous two Asian Games, broke down during the medal ceremony. "I was very emotional on the podium and I broke down into tears because this was my first Asian Games after missing the two previous Asian Games, partly because of a doping allegation in 2006 when I was innocent. On the podium, all the pain and the sacrifices came to my mind. Back then I could also not win the prestigious Arjuna award from the government because of the doping allegation," Seema later explained at the media conference for medal winners. Seema had also won a silver in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games earlier this year. China's Lu Xiaoxin took the silver in 59.35m while her compatriot Tan Jian, who finished sixth in the last two World Championships, bagged the bronze with a throw of 59.03m. At the end of Day 11, India was ranked 9th in the medal tally with six gold, seven silver and 29 bronze medals.