Imphal, March 14: As a fill-up to the promise made the Government for extending incentives to sportsperson who have excelled in various discipline of sports in the year 1999, 2000 and 2001 and 33rd National Games, the Department of Youth Affiars and Sports today distributed cash incentives amounting to Rs 1,71,03500 crore at a reception function held at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium.

The function was graced by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Minister TN Haokip as chief guest and president respectively.

The Chief Minister lauded the feat of the sportsperson who bagged 51 gold, 32 silver medals and 40 bronze medals in the recently concluded 33rd National Games held at Guwahati.

He said that the cash incentives had been increased double fold from the commitment he made to players at the National Games villages in Assam.

To excel in international sports event, the Chief Minister said that a decision has been taken by his Government to award cash incentives of Rs 1 crore, 50 lakhs and 25 lakhs to sportsperson who secured gold, silver and bronze medal in Olympics Games.

Earlier the amount was Rs 3 lakhs, 1 lakh and Rs 50,000.O Ibobi Singh while lauding the sportspersons who bagged three gold medals also announced job facilities for them.

Fencer E Geeta Devi who was working in the police department has been promoted to Sub-Inspector, cyclist S Tombisana and fencer N Harina as ASIs.

The Manipur Police Housing Corporation also handed over a cheque of Rs seven lakhs to cyclist Ch Rameshwori for purchasing a track bike and race bike.

An amount of Rs 19,10,500 has given away as incentives to 300 sportpersons who excelled in 1999 with Ch Rameshwori receiving the highest amount of Rs 78,000.For 2000, an amount of Rs 24,79,000 has been awarded to 419 sportpersons with Th Sanamacha topping the cash incentives with Rs 60,000.A sum of Rs 18,16,000 has been awarded to 363 sport-persons for 2001 with W Nandini receiving Rs 55,000.For medal winners, participants and officials at 33rd National Games, an amount of Rs 1,08,98,000 has been distributed with Ch Rameshwori receiving Rs 3,60,000 for her feat of five gold medals and one silver medal.

The Chief Minister also announced April 2 as holiday in commoration of the feat achieved by the sportpersons of the State.

Comment