New Delhi, Aug 19 : The Sports Ministry has announced a prize money of Rs. 50 lakhs to Abhinav Bindra, for his gold medal in the Beijing Olympics 2008, under the scheme of special award to medal winners in International Sports events.

Coming in the back drop of Bindra’s medal winning performance, Dr. M. S. Gill, Sports Minister, spoke to Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for enhancing the prize money from Rs. 30 lakhs to 50 lakhs, for gold medallists in the Olympics.

Dr. Gill said that the enhanced prize money will help in better performance of Indian sports persons in the Olympics.

The Ministry also increased the prize money of silver and bronze medals. (ANI)