Indian athletes receive tumultuous welcome, Krishna Poonia
Indian athletes, who gave an outstanding performance in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, have received encouragement both from their government and fans in their localities.
Joining the bandwagon is Krishna Poonia the female athlete who won Gold in the Games.
The athlete, who hails from India's northwestern Rajasthan state, has been accorded a rousing welcome and won rewards for her dazzling display in the competition.
She became the first female athlete from the country to win a Commonwealth Games gold making it to the podium in discuss throw at the 19th edition of the Games that ended last week amid a colourful ceremony at the Nehru stadium in Delhi.
Krishna, who is coached by her husband, received a resounding welcome when they returned home to their home town in Jaipur city.
Poonia was the darling of the town upon her return recording a distance of 61.51metres in women's discus throw event, as a token of appreciation the Rajasthan state government announced cash rewards worth $68,000 for her.
She has also been awarded a house and job, there was more joy for her and her spouse has been given a cash prize.
"I announce a cash reward of 15 lakh rupees ($34,052) as opposed to the earlier announcement of 10 lakh rupees ($22,701). Secondly, we will award Virender Singh, her husband and coach a cash reward of 7.5 lakh rupees ($17,026). Krishna Poonia will also be
allotted a middle income group house, under the Rajasthan housing scheme, free of cost. For the preparation of 2012 London Olympics we would like to give her five lakh rupees ($11,350) as training fees", the state chief Ashok Gehlot said at the felicitation
ceremony.
Poonia would now be working as Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Rajasthan Police Service, the female athlete would also be given more rewards for her achievements.
She hopes that her achievement would help give a boost to women athletes in the state.
"After the reward announcement made by the honorable chief minister today I feel that sports would get more boost than what is taking place in Haryana state. Everybody wanted to know how come girls from Haryana are doing well in sports but after the felicitation
that I received today I am sure that girls from this state would also come forward", Krishna Poonia said.
Poonia is now focusing on the next major competition where the challenge is expected to be stiffer.
The event is the upcoming Asian Games in Guangzhou city in China, she hopes to win another medal at the event. However, she realizes that it would be a herculean task as the best in the continent would be turning up with high hopes and ambitions.
"I will be training in Patiala and my preparation for the upcoming games (Asian Games) is going great. Only one month is left and there would be fierce competition there as well", she said.
Besides Poonia the delight was tripled for the Indian female athletes as the nation won two more medals via Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil.
All three women won their medals in the discus throw event at the Delhi Games.
The 19th Commonwealth Games were brought to an end amid another flawless spectacle of song and dance.
The citizens of Delhi were left in awe and were immensely proud of their efforts of their nation that produced a World class event.
Other than Poonia other Gold medal winners are also getting rewarded for their achievements in the Games.
The Gold medal winner in the table tennis event, Shubhajit Saha, received a warm welcome when he reached home in the West Bengal State.
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