Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced an additional cash prize of Rs 1.5 crore for star sprinter Dutee Chand, a day after she clinched a silver in 200 metre race in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, an official said.
The chief minister, who congratulated the Odisha-born sprinter soon after her achievement yesterday, had also announced an additional Rs 1.5 crore prize for her after she bagged a silver in women's 100m sprint earlier.
This apart, Patnaik also announced that the state government would bear the expenses for the 22-year-old athlete's preparation for the next Olympics, the official said.
The state government would provide assistance for her Olympics training, he said.
Two sports bodies - Odisha Athletics Association (OAA) and Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) - have already announced Rs 50,000 each for Dutee Chand, who hails from Jajpur district, for her achievement.
She has created history in athletics of Odisha by winning two medals in a single Asian Games, OAA secretary Asirbad Behera said.
Dutee had been suspended by the International Association for Athletics Federation (1AAF) in 2014 under its hyperandrogenism policy, but she won the case at the Court of Arbitration for Sports.
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