Rajasthan to give Rs 75 lakh to Devendra Jhajharia

Jaipur, Sep 14: The Rajasthan government has decided to award Rs 75 lakh to Devendra Jhajharia who won a gold medal in the men's javelin throw F46 event at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

This was the second time that he won a gold medal at the Paralympics. Jhajharia won gold in the javelin event at the 2004 Athens Paralympics with a record throw of 62.15 metres and this time, he bettered it by throwing 63.97 metres at Rio.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje while congratulating him in her tweet said: "Congratulations on creating history — 1st Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals. Rajasthan is proud of your achievements."

She said: "New world record, phenomenal performance & indomitable spirit! Devendra Jhajharia — you've made India gleam with glory."

Sources in the state government said that besides the Rs 75 lakh award, he would also be given a plot of land in state capital Jaipur and agricultural land in Sri Ganganagar district.