IMPHAL, Sept 15 � Recognising the dedication and hard work put in by the sportspersons of the region, North Eastern Council (NEC) felicitated 10 Olympians of the five north-east States including bronze medalist boxer MC Mary Kom in a function at the newly inaugurated MFDC auditorium in Imphal.
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Union Minister of DoNER Paban Singh Ghatowar along with Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) president Bijoy Koijam handed over a cheque of Rs 40 lakh to Mary Kom and cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to all the nine Olympians of the north-east States.
The other nine Olympians are archers � Laishram Bombayla (Manipur), Tarundeep Rai (Sikkim), Jayanta Talukdar (Assam), Chekrovolu Swuro (Nagaland), boxers � Laishram Devendro (Manipur) and Shiva Thapa (Assam), weightlifter Ngangbam Soniya Chanu (Manipur), hockey player Khadangbam Kothajit (Manipur) and tennis player Somdev Barman (Tripura). Besides, 250 Manipur medallists in the recently concluded 34th National Games in Jharkhand were also honoured with cash awards ranging from Rs 17 lakh to Rs 1 lakh. Gold medalists were given Rs 3 lakh, silver Rs 2 lakh and bronze Rs 1 lakh each.