Sports Ministry announced that it will award Rs 50 lakh to shooter Abhinav Bindra during the Arjuna Awards ceremony on August 29.

Abhinav recently won the first-ever individual gold for India in the 10-metre air rifle event in Beijing Olympics.
 
In its statement, the Sports Ministry said that the ace shooter from Punjab will receive the award from President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The government had enhanced the prize money from Rs. 30 lakhs to 50 lakhs, for gold medallists in the Olympics this time.

Sports Minister Dr. M.S. Gill requested the finance minister and the Prime Minister to hike the sum in the wake of Bindra’s historic feat. The government had also decided to increase the prize money for silver and bronze medal winners from Rs 18 lakh to Rs 30 lakh and Rs 2 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, respectively.

Gill said that the enhanced prize money will help in better performance of Indian sports persons in the Olympics.

Earlier on Monday Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal felicitated the Abhinav Bindra with a cash award of rupees ten million.