Gandhinagar: Daughter of Gujarat Sarita Gayakwad has won gold for India in 4×400 meter relay race in Asian Games. Sarita is from tribal populated district Dang in South Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Sarita in a tweet. Gujarat government has meanwhile announced Rs 1 crore prize to Gayakwad for further training. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani told media persons how Sarita emerged from then Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s initiate Khel Mahakumbh and played national and then international. Surat based Vir Narmad South Gujarat University has declared her as brand ambassador. Vice Chancellor Dr. Shivendra Gupta announced Rs 2 lakh cash prize for Gayakwad. The University Vice Chancellor said Sarita was student of this university and she started playing without shoes as she was from poor family. University ensured that she had shoes to wear and play Kho Kho in full preparedness. Sarita works in Income Tax department. She has become first woman of Gujarat to win gold in Asian games.

Meanwhile opposition Congress party spokesperson Manish Doshi in a statement raised question why Gujarat government declared Rs 1 crore prize instead of Rs 2 crore. He said, ‘as per the Gujarat government website, gold medal in Asian Games should be rewarded with Rs 2 crore prize, but government has today declared just Rs 1 crore prize.

In response to this, the State government in its statement said, the event in which Sarita received gold was a team event in which three Indian players had participated. If it was an individual event and gold was received, then the player would certainly get Rs 2 crore prize as per the Khel Pratibha Puraskar policy.

In another development Gujarat Boy from Bhuj, Tirth Mehta has won Bronze Medal in Hearthstone game.

DeshGujarat