Govt sanctions Rs 5 lakh each to Meerut players who were forced to sell vegetables to make ends meet

Hailing from Gorakhpur, the players were forced to sell vegetables as their father, who used to run a canteen at the Kailash Prakash Sports Stadium in Meerut shut business due to coronavirus pandemic and was unable to earn.

Meerut:Indian sports Ministry on Tuesdaysanctioned Rs 5 lakh each as monetary help to Uttar Pradesh archer Neeraj Chauhan and boxer Sunil Chauhan who were forced to sell vegetables for a living due to the pandemic.

Tweeting about the same, Minister of State of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju said, "I'm happy to announce that Sports Ministry has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh each for UP archer Neeraj Chauhan and boxer Sunil Chauhan under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Fund. The athletes had an acute financial crisis because their father lost his livelihood during the Kiren Rijiju."

Hailing from Gorakhpur, the players were forced to sell vegetables as their father, who used to run a canteen at the Kailash Prakash Sports Stadium in Meerut shut business due to coronavirus pandemic and was unable to earn.

Sunil won a gold medal at the 'Khelo India University' games this year, while Neeraj won a medal at the school games. He won a silver medal at the Senior Archery Championship two years ago.

Following the announcement of monetary help, there is an atmosphere of happiness in the family and both brothers have thanked the government.

Sports official Ale Haider said that the Union Sports Ministry has taken the good initiative by providing financial assistance to these brothers.