The Sports Ministry has announced financial support to UP boxer Sunil Chauhan and his brother archer Neeraj Chauhan who were facing financial crunch after their father -- who is the only earning member of the family -- lost his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the family was forced to sell vegetables to make ends meet.

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju sanctioned an ex-gratia financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the athletes under the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons.

"I'm happy to announce that Sports Ministry has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh each for UP archer Neeraj Chauhan and boxer Sunil Chauhan under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Fund. The athletes had a acute financial crisis because their father lost his livelihood during the pandemic," Rijiju tweeted.

"The financial help will go a long way to help me and my family and we are really thankful to the minister to helping us at the time of our need," said Sunil as per a sports ministry release.

While archer Neeraj won a silver medal in 50m in Senior Archery Championship 2018 and also a medal at the 65th National School Games 2020, his boxer brother Sunil won the gold medal at Khelo India University Games, 2020.