IN A MOVE that's being heavily criticised by the sporting fraternity, the Indian national kabaddi team that just won the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup is being given a total prize of a paltry Rs 10 lakhs by the sports ministry of the central government.
A total purse of a million means every member of the world champion squad will get approximately Rs 67,000 each. That stands in stark contrast with the crores awarded to cricketers in prize money and gifts after they won the world cup, and the multi-lakh awards given to Olympic medalists.
The national kabaddi team, which consists of greats like Anup Kumar, Ajay Thakur and Manjeet Chillar, has continued India's undiminished dominance in world kabaddi. These stars are also the reason why the sport of kabaddi has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years, with the Pro Kabaddi League becoming one of the most watched domestic sporting competition.
At a time when kabaddi, an Indian sport, is growing in stature in the country and abroad, the government's detached shrug of a response to the national team becoming the world champion sets a bad example.