Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt to get land to set up academies

Chandigarh: The Haryana Government today decided to give land to Olympic medal-winning grapplers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt for setting up their wrestling academies, even as the State Cabinet here approved amendment in its Sports Policy of 2009 so as to raise the award money of outstanding sportspersons.

The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here this evening, decided to give eight acres of land on lease to Sushil Kumar Foundation in Moti Lal Nehru School of Sports Rai to set up a wrestling academy. It was also decided to give two acres land to Yogeshwar at Bahadurgarh to set up a wrestling academy, Hooda told reporters after the meeting. A multi-purpose hall and infrastructure at this site would be developed by Haryana Urban Development Authority. The Cabinet also approved amendment in Sports Policy-2009 so as to raise the award money of outstanding sportspersons. Now under the amended policy, the Bhim awardee, Arjuna awardee and Dhyan Chand awardee would get cash awards of Rs five lakh instead of Rs two lakh earlier. The winners of gold medal in international sports events like World Cup or Paralympic World Cup would get Rs 10 lakh instead of Rs five lakh, the winner of silver medal of these events would get Rs eight lakh instead of Rs four lakh and bronze medalist would get Rs six lakh instead of Rs three lakh. The Cabinet also gave its approval to appoint Rajesh Kumar, popularly known as Mahabali Bhim, as Constable in Haryana Police as a special case. Kumar, who belongs to village Danora, Tehsil Naraingarh is an exceptional case as he is the tallest man in Haryana as well as Punjab state. His height is 7 feet and 4 inches, which is more than Dalip Singh Rana (Khali) who was recruited as constable in Punjab Police on similar ground and is already representing India in World Wrestling Entertainment, a Haryana Government release said. It further said that Rajesh Kumar has been recruited as Constable in Haryana police as a special case by giving relaxation in his educational qualifications, upper age limit and recruitment process.