SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has announced a cash reward of Rs 75 lakh for Varun Kumar who is a part of the Indian men’s hockey team that created history by winning an Olympic medal after 41 years. Kumar would also be offered the post of Deputy Superintendent in the state police. Kumar, who is a resident of Osal Panchayat in the Dalhousie area of the Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh comes from a humble background and his father is a truck driver, who earns a living by driving a truck in Mithapur village in Jalandhar.
Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said that it is matter of pride and privilege that Indian hockey team have won a medal after 41 years. It is also a proud moment for the state that one of the players of the winning team belongs to our state, he added. He said that the state government is encouraging youth to join sports and bring more laurels to the state.
Kumar, who plays as a defender in the team, made his debut in the Indian men’s hockey team in 2011. He was also part of the Indian squad that won a gold medal in the Asia Cup 2017 and the Silver medal in Champions Trophy 2018.
The Youth and Sports Minister Rakesh Pathania said that the state government would set up a Hockey academy at Nahan in Sirmaur and another such academy would be set up near Dalhousie. He said that government would also involve Varun Kumar in setting up the academies.
Meanwhile, Dalhousie MLA Asha Kumari also congratulated Varun and the Indian men’s hockey team and demanded that Varun Kumar should be given a government job.
Varun Kumar‘s talismanic performance helped India in defeating Argentina to seal the berth in the quarterfinal. Indian men’s hockey team scripted history on Thursday by defeating Germany 5-4 in the bronze medal match in Tokyo Olympics 2020, and the team celebrated their medal victory in the Olympics after 41 years.