Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Wednesday awarded Indian hockey goalkeeper P.R.Sreejesh, the hero of the Asian Games final, a cash award of Rs.15 lakh and also offered him the job of a district educational officer in the general education department.Chandy visited Sreejesh at his residence in Kochi Sunday after he arrived from Incheon where the Indian hockey team beat Pakistan in the final to win the gold after 16 years. Chandy assured him that a decision on his job would be taken Wednesday at the weekly cabinet meeting to be held here.
"We have decided to give Sreejesh a job of district educational officer and Rs.1.5 million as cash prize for the gold medal," said Chandy to reporters here after the meeting.Chandy also announced cash awards for Malyalee athletes who had won medals in the Asian Games. Quarter-miler Tintu Luka, who won one gold and silver, would get Rs.25 lakh and her coach P.T.Usha would get Rs.2 lakh.Cash awards were also announced for squash player Dipika Pallikal (Rs.17.5 lakh), and Rs.7.5 lakh each for long-distance runner O.P.Jaisha, badminton player P.C.Thulasi, and rower Robin P. Ulahannan.