Haryana Government to award Rs 4 crore and a plot to Vinesh Phogat, international-level sports academy to be established using prize money

The Haryana government has started the process of giving a prize money of Rs 4 crore and a residential plot to Congress MLA and international wrestler Vinesh Phogat under its sports policy. Vinesh had agreed to accept this prize money and plot just two days ago.

Vinesh expressed her gratitude to the Haryana government and said, "This prize money is not just a reward, it is an opportunity for me, a means to realize the dream that I have been seeing for years." She also said that she will use this amount to establish an international-level sports academy, where young players can take their talent to new heights with the best resources. This academy will free young players from the lack of resources and will also provide them the respect and inspiration that every hardworking player has the right to.

Last month, Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini had put three options in front of Vinesh—cash award, a residential plot and a government job. Being an MLA, Vinesh could not choose a government job, so she chose the other two options.

Under the sports policy of the state government, there is a provision to give cash prizes, government jobs and residential plots to Olympic medal winners as per the rules. Under this, the cabinet of the government had passed a resolution and decided to give prize money and a plot to Vinesh. During the budget session, Vinesh had raised the issue before the Chief Minister that she had not received the prize money despite being declared.

Although Vinesh had missed the silver medal in the Paris Olympics, Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini had said on the social media platform X that Vinesh is the proud daughter of Haryana and her achievement will be considered equivalent to that of an Olympic silver medalist. The cabinet, considering Vinesh's case as special, decided to give her all the awards equal to the silver medalist.