Cash prize for T20 World Cup-winning blind cricket team

New Delhi, Feb. 22: Putting rest to speculations, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Wednesday announced a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh for each member of the victorious Blind cricket T20 World Cup winning squad.

Speaking at the launch of the Delhi Gramin Khel Mahotsav here, Goel told reporters that the government is committed to support the differently-abled players.

“Each player of the blind cricket T20 World Cup winning squad will receive Rs 5 lakh prize money,” Goel said.

With an aim to promote indigenous games and unearth talents from the remote parts of the country, the Sports Ministry will hold a multi-sport championship — Delhi Gramin Khel Mahotsav — from March 25 to 31.

“The festival will help involve rural youths in large numbers to participate in popular sports and will encourage them to achieve excellence and adopt a healthy lifestyle,” Goel said.

“This will also help in bringing out local talents, who can be groomed for representing the country at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. We want to take the games to the rural and tribal areas, starting with Delhi and gradually taking it to the other states,” he added.

The Games will be held initially at the Block level after which competitions will be held between various Blocks followed by the final.

Goel announced that five blocks, namely Alipur, Nangloi, Najafgarh, Mehrauli and Shadara, will participate in the games, where the qualifying matches will be organised.

The inter-block competitions will be held in Bawana and finals will be conducted at the Indira Gandhi Stadium here.

The opening ceremony will be held on March 28 and the conclusion of the Games will be followed by a closing ceremony on March 31 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.

Goel also announced a Gramin Marathon for unity to promote Digital India, which he claimed was a dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.