AT Photo
Imphal,Aug 21: The Manipur government felicitated the five state sports persons who represent the country in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics 2020 during a grand felicitation function at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal today.
In the day's felicitation function, Sh Nilakanta Sharma, a midfielder in Olympic medal winner Indian men's hockey team, was honoured with a cash award of Rs 75 lakh and the appointment letter of Deputy Director in sports department while his colleague P Sushila Chanu who is also midlfielder in Indian women hockey team in Tokyo Olympics,was honoured with a cash award of Rs 25 lakh and the appointment letter of Assistant Director in the same department.
India's lone Judoka L Sushila from Manipur in the Tokyo Olympics was also honoured with a cash award of Rs 25 lakh.She was also given promotion to the post of Inspector in the Manipur Police Department. On the other hand,London Olympic bronze medallist and Rajya Sabha MP MC Mary Kom who also participated in the Tokyo Olympics was also honoured with a cash award of Rs 25 lakh.On July 27, the state government had awarded Rs 1 crore to silver medallist weightlifter in Tokyo Olympics 2020 Saikhom Mirabai Chanu for her achievement. She was also given the post of Additional SP (Sports) in the Manipur Police Department.The coaches of the state athletes were also honoured during the gathering.
The state Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti Shri Prahlad Singh Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar,Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Letpao Haokip and other ministers,MLAs, Manipur Olympic Association functionaries,officials and sports personalities of the state were present in the felicitation function.
Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam, Gymnastics Federation of India General Secretary Dr S Shantikumar Singh and former Olympians P Nilakomol, Ksh Thoiba, Kh Tombi, Ng Sonia and K Chinglensana were also present. It may be mentioned that the state of Manipur has so far produced 19 Olympians. Besides, there are hundreds of international players in the state.
