Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for Shiksha, a Haryana-based wushu player, who was forced to figure as a farm labourer thanks to severe financial distress in times COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a release issued by the sports ministry, the 22-year-old athlete, who has won 24 gold medals at the state Wushu Championship, was sanctioned the cash through the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons.
Shiksha, who is additionally pursuing her BSc in sports science said she is grateful to the Sports Minister for his intervention.
“I do not have words to thank the Sports Minister for his noble gesture and sending across Rs 5 lakh at a time like this,” she said.
“I am absolutely determined to urge back to my training at the earliest and it is so good to ascertain such a proactive minister who cares for the athletes. I promise everyone that within a year, i will be able to win a trophy for the country.