After drawing lot of criticism for not honouring India men’s hockey team goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh, the Kerala government, after the weekly cabinet meeting, has announced a cash award of Rs 2 crore and a promotion to the star player.
Sreejesh, also the former captain of the team, was an integral part of the hockey squad, which recently won bronze medal in the just concluded Tokyo Olympics.
It was Sreejesh’s heroics which had helped India bag a medal at the showpiece event after four decades.
Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman also announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh each to seven other athletes from the state, who had represented the country in various other disciplines at Olympics.
Meanwhile, he announced that Sreejesh, who is presently employed as Chief Sports Organiser with the Kerala Education Department, has been promoted to the rank of Joint Director.
Earlier on Monday, UAE-based VPS Healthcare’s Chairman and Managing Director Shamsheer Vayalil had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 crore for Sreejesh.