New Delhi, Oct 14: The country’s 2024 Paris Olympics medallists, including star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and shooter Manu Bhaker, were on Monday felicitated with cash awards by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at a grand function here.Chopra, who clinched a silver in the men’s javelin throw, could not receive the award in person as he is currently out of the country. An Athletics Federation of India (AFI) official collected the ₹75 lakh cheque from Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya who graced the event.
Chopra’s then coach Klaus Bartonietz of Germany, who is no longer with the superstar, was honoured with ₹20 lakh. Bartonietz was also not present at the event.
Manu first received ₹50 lakh for her bronze medal in individual 10m air pistol and then shared ₹50 lakh with Sarabjot Singh for their third place finish in mixed 10m air pistol team event.
Her coach Jaspal Rana was handed ₹10 lakh for guiding Manu to bronze medal in individual 10m air pistol. He then shared ₹15 lakh with Abhishek Rana for the third place finish by Manu and Sarabjot in the mixed 10m air pistol event.
Wreslter Aman Sehrawat, who won a bronze in 57kg freestyle, was honoured with ₹50 lakh and he also collected ₹15 lakh on behalf of his coach Ali Shabanov.
Another shooter Swapanil Kusale, who won the 50m rifle three positions bronze, got ₹50 lakh while his coach Deepali Deshpande received Rs 15 lakh.
All the members of the bronze-winning Indian men’s hockey team received ₹10 lakh each while head coach Craig Fulton got ₹20 lakh.
India won six medals – one silver and five bronze – at the Paris Olympics.
Mandaviya said India should set the target of 20 medals in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“We are bidding for 2036 Olympics and our target in that Games is to finish in the top 10 (in the medal table) and by 2047 when the country celebrates its 100 years of Independence, we should be in the top 5,” he said.