Asian Games medallist Divya Kakran slams Delhi government for lack of support

Asian Games 2018 bronze medallist Divya Kakran lashed out at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his government for lack of support for the athletes.

At a felicitation ceremony in New Delhi on Tuesday, Divya told Kejriwal that she could have won gold at the Games with proper support from the government.

"You've gathered us today to congratulate us but there's no support provided when we need it most. If we're given that support at the right time then we can even win gold," Divya said.

"I'd won a medal at the Commonwealth Games (in Gold Coast, Australia, earlier this year) and you had told me that I will receive more help going forward. I gave all the help I needed in writing but even my phone calls were not answered," Divya added.

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Divya won the medal at the Games after beating Taiwan's Chen Wenling in the 68kg category bronze medal match. It was her first medal at the Asian Games.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal during the ceremony announced that the prize money for the state players who won medals at Asian games will be increased.

The prize money of gold medalists has been raised from 20 lakhs to 1 crore, silver medalists will now be entitled to an amount of 75 lakhs instead of 14 lakhs. The bronze medal winners also got a raise from existing 10 lakhs to 50 lakhs.

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Kejriwal stated that the government would also arrange employment for the medal winners.

"We have raised reward amount for winners of Asian Games.Reward for gold medallists raised from Rs.20 lakhs to Rs.1 Crore, for silver medalists from Rs.14 lakhs to Rs.75 lakhs, for bronze medalists from Rs.10 lakhs to Rs.50 lakhs," Kejriwal said.

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"Also, we will arrange employment for them," he added.