Cash rewards for Rio Games medallists' coaches put on hold
While the Ministry of Sports gave away cash rewards to the medal winners of the Rio Olympics and Paralympics, the awards for the coaches have been put on hold. Olympics bronze medalist Sakshi Malik and Paralympic silver medalist Deepa Malik have filed affidavits that have new names as their coaches. The coaches' awards will be distributed after an enquiry is done in the matter.
After the proposal to reward the coaches of the medal winners at Rio Games was announced, many people came up and claimed to be bronze medalist Sakshi Malik's coach. However, in an affidavit given to the Haryana government, Sakshi named Mandeep Singh as her coach. Paralympic games silver medal winner Deepa Malik said that it was her husband who coached her.
Speaking on the controversy, Deepa Malik said, "My coaching was done by my husband. He took a sabbatical from his job. He studied the loopholes in my technique and put his sports knowledge to use. I give maximum credit to my husband."
The Sports Ministry gave away cash awards to the medal winners to the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games under government's scheme of felicitating international medals winners. As per the scheme, gold medal winners were given Rs.75 lakh, silver medallists Rs.50 lakh and bronze medal winners Rs.30 lakh. Coaches of the medal winners are supposed to get half the sum as cash prize.
Sakshi mentioned Mandeep Singh and Ishwar Dahiya as her coaches. Government of Haryana gave cash prize to Mandeep. However, on Sakshi's request, CM announced Rs. 10 lakh award for Kuldeep as well. Later, she said the same should be given to Ishwar too.
