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Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug. 21 (EMN): The Manipur government on Saturday honoured five Olympians from the state including India’s first silver medallist weightlifter, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu with cash awards and job appointment orders at a felicitation function at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal.
Speaking on the occasion, Manipur's Chief Minister, Biren Singh said that the state was planning to complete Manipur Olympian Park in the outskirts of Imphal by the end of November this year. He stated that the park would be a symbol of honour and tribute to the 19 Olympians, who represented the country in the Olympic Games from Manipur. He opined that the main idea of developing the park was to inspire the budding players and motivate them to work hard.
The chief minister reiterated that the state government has recently created 18 posts including 10 Assistant Directors, 5 Deputy Directors and 3 Joint Directors in the state Youth Affairs and Sports department for the Olympians and medal winners in the Olympics from the state.
Biren Singh also announced that the state would reward Ngangom Bala Devi with INR 30 lakh for bringing laurels to the state by becoming the first Indian woman footballer, who played for a foreign club.
Moreover, midfielder Sh Nilakanta Sharma in India’s men hockey team was feted with a cheque of INR 75 lakh and appointed as the deputy director in the state Sports department for winning a bronze medal in Men's Hockey. Likewise, midfielder in Indian women hockey team P Sushila Chanu was honoured with a cheque of INR 25 lakh and appointed as the assistant director in Sports department.
London Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom was also honoured with a cheque of INR 25 lakh while India’s lone Judoka L Sushila from Manipur was honoured with INR 25 lakh and promoted to the post of inspector in Manipur Police department. Earlier silver medallist, S Mirabai Chanu had already been awarded INR 1 crore besides being appointed as the additional SP (Sports) in Manipur Police department.