Pole vaulter gets Rs 3 lakh ex-gratia from Sports Ministry

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry on Wednesday announced Rs 3 lakh assistance for pole vaulter Ajit Singh,

who had suffered major injuries five years ago. "Dr M S Gill, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports has sanctioned an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 3 lakh from the National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons to Ajit Singh," a Ministry release said. Singh suffered major injuries in January 2005 during the National School Games held in Pune. The 23-year-athlete, who had won gold in Junior National Athletics Championship at Meerut in 2004, had showed promise before the accident. Ajit had also won golds in Haryana State Athletics Championship at Sirsa in August, 2004 and Junior North Region Athletics Championship at Panipat in September same year. He had also topped in Haryana State School Athletics Championship in November, 2004. "The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports came to know from news reports that father of Ajit Singh has incurred huge expenses on medical treatment of his son even by taking loans from bank against his land.” "Taking cognizance of his situation, Sports Minister sanctioned assistance of Rs 3 lakh to Ajit Singh," the release said. PTI