Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has amended the policy for para-athletes to make them eligible for more cash awards. 

The medallists of the Para-Badminton World Championship were handed over Rs 1.82 crore on Tuesday by Minister Kiren Rijiju.

The amended guidelines state that all medal winners in world events and world championships that are organized either by International Paralympic Committee or in events that are not organised by IPC but organised by respective International Sports Federation and which are recognised by International Olympic Committee will also be eligible for cash awards from the government.

The amendment also states that any medal winner from any International event will receive their cash award on the day they return to the country. The long waiting process of once- a- year ceremony is over.

At the recently-concluded World Championships in Basel, Switzerland, the para-badminton players have won 12 medals.

As IPC does not organise para-badminton events, so under the previous guidelines, these set of players were not eligible for the cash awards.  But under the changed guidelines, they are the first set of athletes who received their cash awards. 

They were handed over the cheques by the Sports Minister over a lunch organized at the Sports Authority of India. The gold medalists winner have given Rs 20 lakh, the silver medallists were given 14 lakh and bronze winners Rs 8 lakh each.

Winners at the double event won each of  Rs 15 lakh for gold, Rs 10.5 lakh for silver and Rs 6 lakh for bronze.

Minister Kiren Rijiju urged that this amendment would provide the same facilities to all athletes by the Government. 

The Minister was full of praise for the para-badminton team and feels that they deserve to be rewarded for their hard work.