CHENNAI: Multiple Asian Games medallist Vithya Ramraj, India all-rounder Washington Sundar and chess wizard R Praggnanandhaa were among those felicitated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at a glittering function on Thursday in honour of the winning medallists in the Asian Games and Chess Olympiad. All the medal winning athletes and chess players were awarded cash prize as per the medal they won. Asian Games medalists got Rs 75 lakhs for Gold, 50 lakhs for silver, 30 lakhs for bronze. In chess, the men got Rs 15 lakhs and women got Rs 10 lakhs.
Vithya was the cynosure of all the eyes as she had won three medals (gold, silver, bronze) in Japan and got a cash award totaling Rs 1.55 crore across her achievements. The runner thanked the Tamil Nadu government for encouraging and recognizing her achievement and promised to do better in the future.
Squash veteran Joshna Chinappa, who took part as a fifteen-year-old girl in her first Asian Games in 2002 just appeared in her seventh this year. She got emotional said she was proud to represent Tamil Nadu and the country.
"I started my Asian Games journey in 2002, back when I was 15 years old, and it feels great to be here to compete, I have just competed in my 7th Asian Games," she said.
"It has been my greatest honor for the last two decades to play for Tamil Nadu and my country. I stand here today to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable Chief Minister and SDAT for all the support that has been given to us athletes. We are able to go abroad and train, and with all the encouragement and financial support, it has really enabled athletes like myself and many others to compete at the highest level and bring medals back for the country. I would also like to say many thanks to our Honorable Chief Minister for giving each athlete who went to the Asian Games 7 lakhs before we left, and also increasing the High Cash Incentive Award," she said.
However, the highlight of the evening was the launch of "Dream Olympics" player support scheme by chief minister Vijay.
The primary highlight of the scheme was financial support for players to achieve their goal and ambition. Stipend and training funds will be given to all medal winning athletes from the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, para Asian and Commonwealth Games. All these athletes would be inducted into a scheme whereby they will be provided Rs 50 lakh per year. This package also includes a Rs 1 lakh monthly stipend to support their elite training, nutrition, and international exposure.
Former India Davis Cup captain Ramesh Krishnan, Olympians V Baskaran, Md Riaz, S Raman were present at the function.
