Karnataka govt to reward Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Veda Krishnamurthy

UDUPI: Karnataka too has opened up its purse strings to women cricketers from the state in the Mithali Raj led World Cup squad that finished runners up to hosts England in the just concluded

Women’s World Cup cricket

tournament. Felicitating the squad for falling historic 9-runs short of an epic win at the Lords, minister for sports and youth empowerment

Pramod Madhwaraj

said the performance of the squad has done the state in general and nation in particular rather proud.

The minister also announced a cash award of Rs 25 lakh each to two women cricketers who were part of the squad - Rajeshwari Shivanand Gayakwad, left arm orthodox spinner and right handed batswoman from Vijayapura and leg break bowler cum batswoman K Veda Krishnamurthy from Chikkamagaluru. The amount will be given to these players at a felicitation function that will be arranged shortly, he said, adding their example should inspire more women to take up this game.

Incidentally, the BCCI has already announced Rs 50 lakh each to every member of the squad and reward to the support staff as well while Indian Railways Rs 1.3 crore (or Rs 13 lakh each) to 10 members of the squad who are employed with the Railways and out of turn promotions to them as well. Respective state governments too have announced job offers to players from their state with Punjab government offering DSPs post to power hitter Harmanpreet Kaur.