Rio medallist Sakshi Malik appointed Wrestling Director of Rohtak University

Chandigarh: The Haryana Government has announced the appointment of Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik as Wrestling Director at Maharshi Dayanand University in her native town Rohtak.

Announcing this, Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij, also said that she will be given Rs 21 lakh out of his discretionary fund and a plot measuring 500 square yards.

Her coach Mandeep would be given promotion under special rules, Vij said on Sunday.

The Haryana Government has, in recognition of her achievement, already felicitated Sakshi Malik, who hails from Rohtak district, with a cash reward of Rs 2.5 Cr under its Sports Policy.

The sports minister was speaking at a function at Rohtak late last evening where hockey players--Savita Punia and Poonam Rani and wrestler Virender Singh were also felicitated.

Vij said that during his visit to Rio Olympics, he met players, coaches and other people of various countries to learn about different aspects of specialities of players and sports.

"By adopting Haryana's sports model across the country, India could leave countries like the USA behind in terms of medal tally. Therefore, the policy of 'Catch them Young' would have to be adopted," he asserted.

Haryana Government has already taken steps in this direction and has decided to open 20 sports nurseries in districts, for which more than 550 applications have been received, the Sports Minister said.

Apart from this, the Government has decided to construct a small sports stadium in each village, besides establishing 880 Yogshalas and Vyayamshalas at village level this year, he added.

He said that the present State Government had, for the first time, taken the initiative to establish a Sports Council in the State. Before this, there was no constitutional authority to look after sports and sportspersons or ensure maintenance of infrastructure, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Haryana's Minister of State for Cooperation and BJP MLA from Rohtak Manish Kumar Grover, said that the State Government was preparing excellent sportspersons and coaches in a planned manner.

He also announced to give Rs 10 lakh to Sakshi's coach Ishwar Dahiya.