Indian women's team showered with rewards for their dazzling show at Women's WC

07/24/2017

Railways minister Suresh Prabhu announced out of turn promotions for the women in Railways that are a part of the Indian team that made it to the final of the Women's World Cup. Moreover, Harmanpreet Kaur was offered a job in the Punjab police for her dazzling show at the tournament.

The Indian women's team ended their World Cup campaign yesterday and fell nine runs short of making history against England at Lords missing out on lifting their maiden title. Railways minister Suresh Prabhu had already announced promoting the women in the Railways that were a part of the team in England.

“Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has conveyed his best wishes to the Indian team. He has announced out-of-turn promotions to women cricketers of Railways currently in the Indian World Cup squad in England,” Rekha Yadav, ED/Sports & Secretary of the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), told Indian Express.

“There will be cash award too as per our extant policy.”

Meanwhile, the hero of the semi-final Harmanpreet Kaur whose explosive batting tore apart the Australian win and guided India to the final once again shone in the final with her half-century but failed to carry India over the finishing line. Nonetheless, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has decided to reward Harmanpreet by offering her the post of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) for her dazzling performance in the World Cup. The Punjab chief minister also promised to review the sports policy of the state according to which Kaur was denied a job earlier and had to move to Mumbai to sustain her sporting career.

“Taking cognizance of media reports that Harmanpreet had wanted to join the Punjab Police some years ago, the Chief Minister said his government was keen to correct the wrong perpetrated on the young cricketer by the (Parkash Singh) Badal government, which had refused to accommodate the national player in Punjab Police,” the spokesman told IANS.

Singh also announced a cash award worth Rs. 5 lakhs for Kaur.

On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced awarding the women's team with Rs 50 lakhs in Bhopal for making India proud in the tournament.

"MP Govt. Will felicitate @BCCIWomen World Cup team in a grand ceremony in Bhopal & award a prize of Rs. 50 lakhs," Chouhan tweeted.

The Indian board had already announced rewarding the team's players with Rs 50 lakhs each while the support staff will be given Rs 25 lakhs for their contribution in the tournament.

"They lost the final but made the nation proud with their performance. The BCCI will organise a felicitation for the team and we are also trying to fix up a meeting with Prime Minister Modi," a BCCI official close to the development, told PTI.

"There is a feeling (among the BCCI and COA) that the surge in popularity of the women's game should be cashed in on. One way to build on the World Cup gains is by having a women's IPL.

"The focus now should immediately turn to the World T20 next year," the official added.