New Delhi: Shooting sensation Manu Bhaker on Friday reminded Haryana sports minister Anil Vij of a Rs 2 crore cash award promise, which he made after her Youth Olympic gold medal, but is yet to fulfil.
The 16-year-old Bhaker caught the attention with her stunning exploits in shooting ranges across the world, winning multiple gold in her maiden senior World Cup, Commonwealth Games, besides the top prize at the Youth Olympics last October.
The pistol shooter, hailing from Goria village in Jhajjar, posted screenshots of Vij's tweet in which he had promised her cash award to the tune of Rs 2 crore on behalf of the state government.
"Sir Please confirm if it is correct... Or just Jumla (sic)," Bhaker wrote on Twitter.
On the defensive, Anil Avij tweeted that Bhaker should have come to the sports department before going public. “Manu Bhaker should have first confirmed it from the Sports Deptt. before going to public domain. It is disgusting to denounce a State Govt which is giving highest awards in the Country. Bhaker will will will get 2 crores as tweated by me and as per notification at that time (sic),” he said.
Hours later, Vij tweeted that the reward money will be disbursed in January.
After Bhaker had become the first Indian shooter to win gold at Youth Olympics, Vij had tweeted, "Congratulations to Manu Bhaker for winning shooting gold in Youth Olympics.
"Haryana government will give a cash prize of Rs 2 crore to Manu Bhaker for winning this gold. Previous governments used to pay Rs 10 lakh only."
The shooter also felt that someone in the Haryana government has been playing "games" with the money that was to be awarded to the medallists.
As per the state government's changed policy, which came into effect before the Youth Olympics, Rs 2 crore was marked for the gold medallists, Rs 1.25 crore for silver medallists and Rs 80 lakh for the bronze winners. Before that, the YOG medallists would get Rs 10 lakh, Rs 7.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh in descending order.