TN govt announces total cash incentive of ₹15 lakh to two athletes

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday (May 2) announced a total cash incentive of ₹15 lakh to state-based athletes Gomathi Marimuthu and Arokia Rajiv for winning gold and silver in the Asian Athletics Championship held at Qatar recently.

While Gomathi had won gold in the Womens 800 m race, Rajiv clinched silver in the 4×400 m mixed relay. Chief Minister K Palaniswami lauded the two athletes and wished they brought more laurels by participating in international events. The government would be supportive in their endeavour to win more medals, he said in a statement.

Palaniswami said the state government often provides incentives to sports person’s winning international laurels. “On that basis, I have directed that sum of ₹10 lakh shall be provided to Gomathi Marimuthu, who won gold, and ₹5 lakh to Arokia Rajiv,for clinching silver” in the Asian Athletics Championship, he added.

The 30-year-old unheralded Gomathi had clocked a personal best time of 2 minute 02.70 seconds in the womens 800m race held in Doha, Qatar last week. In the 4x400m mixed relay team, which was introduced for the first time in this championship, the Indian quartet of Mohammed Anas, MR Poovamma, VK Vismaya and Rajiv had clocked 3:16.47 to finish second.