Shikha Pandey may have to wait for Goa government reward

Panaji: Shikha Pandey is eligible for a cash purse of Rs 10 lakh for her silver-medal winning performance with the Indian team at the ICC Women’s World Cup last month but may have to wait a while before she can get her hands on the prize.

The Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) has a scheme in place to reward successful Goan sportspersons, or those with 15 years of domicile in the state. The scheme promises a cash purse of Rs 1 crore to anyone who wins a gold medal at the Olympics, while Rs 75 lakh and Rs 50 lakh have been set aside for silver and gold medallist at the Olympics respectively.

There is, however, a drastic drop in rewards for achievers at the World Cup, especially those which are staged once every four years. The ICC Women’s World Cup, held recently in England, falls in this category with the winners receiving Rs 15 lakh. Shikha is now eligible for a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh from the government for her silver-medal winning performance with the Indian team.

“We have an existing scheme and she is eligible for the prize prize. She must apply through the Goa

Cricket

Association,” said a senior SAG official.

Interestingly, the state government hasn’t paid any prize money to deserving sportspersons for the last three years. Replying to a question tabled in the state legislative assembly by Margao MLA

Digambar Kamat

about the delay in payment, sports minister Manohar Azgaonkar blamed “non-availability of budget.”

Chess queen

Bhakti Kulkarni

and table tennis prodigy Tanisi Kirtani are among those awaiting prize money for their international triumphs. Shikha will also be added to that list.

Chief minister Manohar Parrikar personally met the Pilerne star on Friday and congratulated her – along with physiotherapist Tracy Fernandes – for India’s spending showing at the tournament. India lost to England in a nail-biting final at Lord’s

Earlier, the state legislative assembly was all praise for the Goan allrounder. When Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar moved a congratulatory motion on Thursday, several MLAs and ministers, including sports minister Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar, stood up to pat Shikha on the back. Others who spoke include PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar, opposition leader Chandrakant Kavlekar, Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha.