Indian increases prize money for hockey players

Dunya News

Sports Minister Ajay Maken has announced an increase in the prize money worth rupees 0.15 million.

Soon after federal Sports Minister Ajay Maken announced an increase in the prize money worth rupees 0.15 million, players of Indian hockey team praised the state and federal government for considering their efforts. India’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Ajay Maken disclosed this in New Delhi on Wednesday.Earlier, in the day players of the winning team refused to accept the prize money of rupees 25,000 ($525) offered by Hockey India (HI), claiming it to be a meager amount. Speaking to mediapersons, captain of Indian Hockey team Rajpal Singh said that they were not asking the government to increase the amount beyond their policy but to do justice with the players by giving them fair amount of money as award.“I never said that good amount of money should be given to us. It should be given as per the policy of central (federal) or state government. If Ajay Makan (federal Sports Minister) has announced it then I think it was in their policy that they should not exceed the amount as per their policy so I think it is fair enough for any player,” said Singh.Makan had announced that under a national scheme, each player is entitled to receive prize money worth rupees 0.15 million as such there was no official announcement.