Rewards started pouring in for Sushil Kumar who won bronze medal in Beijing Olympics on Wednesday with the Railway Ministry and Delhi Government announcing cash awards to a total of Rs 1.05 crore for the wrestler.
Minutes after Kumar clinched the bronze medal beating Kazakhstan's Leonid Spiridonov in men's freestyle wrestling 66kg class, Railway Minister announced that the grappler will be promoted as a Assistant Commercial Manager from ticketing inspector.
Laloo Prasad Yadav also announced a cash reward of Rs 55 lakh for Kumar, who is employed with the Railways.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also announced a Rs 50 lakh reward for the wrestler, who hails from Najafgarh in south-west Delhi.
Besides the cash reward, Dikshit also said Satpal, Kumar's trainer who is employed with Delhi Government's Sports Department, will be given an out-of-turn promotion.
"Congratulations to everybody, to Delhi specially. This boy has done remarkably well. He comes from rural Delhi, comes from a government school which makes us doubly proud," Dikshit said.
She said she could not believe that Kumar had won the medal even though everybody was hoping that something will happen. "But we did not expect we will get a bronze."
"I thought my heart has stopped for a minute because I could not believe what I was hearing. The joy and tears have been so spontaneous," she said.
Sushil is only the second Indian grappler to win the wrestling bronze after Kashabha Jadhav had returned with the medal in 1952 Helsinki Games. Shooter Abhinav Bindra has won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the country earlier at the Beijing Games.
Gill said Sushil would be rewarded with a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh.
The sum for the Olympic bronze medal winners has been raised from Rs 12 lakh from this time around.
