Rio Paralympic medallists to be given cash awards

New Delhi, Sep 6: In a morale booster for the athletes participating at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, the Sports Ministry on Tuesday announced that the medallists will be given cash awards at par with last month's Olympic medal winners.

India has sent its biggest-ever contingent of 17 athletes to the Rio Paralympics which starts in the Brazilian city on Wednesday.

"Gold medallists of #Paralympic Games are entitled to Rs 75 Lakh, Silver Rs 50 Lakh and Bronze Rs 30 Lakh as cash award from MYAS," the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports tweeted from its official handle. 

"This cash award to the #Paralympic medallists is at par with medallists of #Olympics," it added.

Wishing the athletes well ahead of the sporting extravaganza, the ministry tweeted: "Best wishes to all the athletes representing India at the #Rio2016 #Paralympics! #MakeIndiaProud #KheloIndia".

Squad:

Mariyappan Thangavelu (high jump), Varun Singh Bhati (high jump), Pooja (archery), Sharad Kumar (high jump), Rampal Chahar (high jump), Sundar Singh Gurjar (javelin throw), Devendra Jhajaria (javelin throw), Rinku (javelin throw), Narender Ranbir (javelin throw), Sandeep (javelin throw), Amit Kumar Saroha (club throw), Deepa Malik (shot put), Dharambir (club throw), Ankur Dhama (1,500 metres run), Basha Farman (powerlifting), Suyash Narayan Jadhav (swimming), Naresh Kumar Sharma (shooting).