Hooda announces Rs 30 lakh for Indian hockey team

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced a sum of Rs 30 lakh for the national hockey team, which clinched the Asian Championship title in China recently.

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday announced a sum of Rs 30 lakh for the national hockey team, which clinched the Asian Championship title in China recently after beating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final.

He also announced an additional sum of Rs 10 lakh for those players who hail from Haryana. The announcement has come after the approval of election commission as the model code of conduct is enforced in the state due to the by-election in Hisar. The CM also informed that since 2005, the government has presented Rs 32.42 crore to state`s 6,976 medal winning players at different levels. In 2008, Beijing Olympians of the region were given Rs 2.61 crore, while the Commonwealth Games participants from the State were awarded Rs 4.83 crore along with cars at Haryana Day function in November last year. Asian Games participants were honoured with Rs 6.65 crore earlier this year, an official release quoted Hooda as saying. Hooda also added that besides rewarding excellent performances, the government`s aim is to raise the level of physical activity in the state that will help in increasing health standards, reducing school dropouts and keeping instances of drug and delinquency under control. PTI