Narendra Modi meets India's Blind Cricket World Cup winners

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Each member of the Indian team which won the just-concluded Blind Cricket World Cup for the first time was handed a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh by Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal here on Wednesday.

The Indian team beat Pakistan in the final to lift the Blind Cricket World Cup trophy in Cape Town, South Africa on December 7. At a felicitation function held here today, Sonowal handed the cheques to the players.

"I congratulate the players for winning the World Cup. We are proud of them. By dint of their hard work and dedication, they have made us proud," Sonowal said after presenting the cash rewards to the blind players.

Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot also said that his ministry will also give Rs 2 lakh to each of the players.
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Vijay Sampla was also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the players and the team officials were received at the IGI airport by Gehlot, another Cabinet Minister Chemical and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar and Sonowal in the morning.

India will host the 2016 Blind Cricket T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the team also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was excited to meet all the members.

An evening that I will cherish! Met the Indian Team that won the Blind Cricket World Cup & made India proud. pic.twitter.com/SEtNY2itZb — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 10, 2014

Another photo with the team. pic.twitter.com/90KaL12KRu — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 10, 2014

(With PTI inputs)