Maken offers SAI job to Girisha

Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Wednesday announced that HN Girisha, who won a silver medal in the ongoing London Paralympics, will be offered a job with the Sports Authority of India.

“Paralympic silver medalist Nagaraj to be offered a job of coach in Sports Authority of India at an officer level!,” Maken said On his Twitter feed.

The announcement comes a day after Maken said the Ministry would award the 24-year-old high jumper with Rs 30 lakh.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Government said they plan to award Girisha Rs 5 lakh. “The State Government intends to award him Rs 5 lakh that is given to Olympians from the State,” said Sports Minister Appachu Ranjan. He however could not say whether the government intended to assist the athlete in any other way.

The Paralympic Committee of India has also announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for Girisha.

Meanwhile, Girisha dedicated his silver medal winning feat to the disabled community in the country and asserted that their hard work and sacrifice was no less than the medal winners at the Olympics.

“I am very happy that finally my hard work has earned results. It is a pity that in India every sportsperson gets help but as fas as para athletes are concerned, only government takes care of us. No one takes us seriously but our hard work is no less then any Olympic medallists,” Girisha said.

He rued the fact that despite being a big nation, Indian Paralympic contingent had only 10 competitors. “Here everyone asks us that your country is so big but there are only 10 members  in your team. It is shameful. I hope that we will have a bigger contingent in 2016,” he said.

Girisha said Olympic silver medalist Sushil Kumar is his role model. “Sushil won bronze in Beijing and now silver in London. He is a true role model and champion,” said Girisha.

JD (S) reward

Meanwhile, JD (S) Karnataka Unit president H D Kumaraswamy has announced that his  party would present Rs five lakh cash reward to Girisha. Girisha is from Arkalgud of Hassan district. Kumaraswamy too hails from the same district.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar also congratulated Girisha. “Girisha has overcome poverty as well as his physical deformity by his outstanding performance in sports. Indeed his accomplishment is inspiring to the youth especially the differently abled,” Shettar said in his message.