Ambala
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij on Monday said sportspersons were their pride and there was no bitterness between the sports department and players.

Speaking to The Tribune here on Monday, Vij said, “Sportspersons are the pride of this state. We always had and will continue to have cordial relations with them. Earlier, the government had decided to deduct some prize money but now even that is not being done. There is no bitterness between the department and the players. Their achievements and respect cannot be compromised with. They will get their dues.”

Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka and Olympian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt had heated exchange of tweets following a notification of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department on cuts in the earnings by sportspersons. Several players had criticised the government move. Later, the Chief Minister had to put the orders on hold.

The sports minister has announced that all 22 sportspersons of the state who won medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games would be given cash prizes without any deduction. He said he would prepare a file and send it to the CM for approval. “Later, it will be decided whether to hold a big event to honour the players or the money be directly credited to their accounts,” Vij said.

The minister also announced that appointment letters would be given to the 207 sportspersons who won medals in international competitions during the tenure of the previous as well as the present state government. He hoped that the department would start issuing appointment letters this month.