Chorus to increase Swapna Barman's cash awards grows

NEW DELHI: A day after Olympic medal winning boxer Vijender Singh demanded the

West Bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to increase the prize money for the Asian Games gold medal winner Swapna Barman, India’s chief athletics coach Bahadur Singh on Tuesday made a similar appeal to reward the Jalpaiguri athlete.


Bahadur said Rs 10 lakh isn’t enough to acknowledge the effort of Swapna, who became the first Indian to bag a

heptathlon

gold.

Mamata had announced a cash award of Rs. 10 lakh and a state government job for Swapna.

“Never for a moment am I saying that money is everything. 10-15 lakhs rupees are nothing in today’s world, but it motivates the athletes.

"Such gestures also go a long way in helping the sport. Rs. 10 lakh is nothing compared to what Swapna has done in

Jakarta

,” said Bahadur, citing the example of sprinter Dutee Chand, who would be getting Rs. 3 crore in cash awards from the Odisha government for her two silver medals at the Asiad.