Mamata announces promotion, cash award for Sushil Kumar

SILIGURI - Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday announced out-of-turn promotion and a cash award of Rs.10 lakh for Sushil Kumar, who Sunday became the first Indian wrestler to win a gold medal at the World Championship.

“We are proud of Sushil Kumar. He has made India proud. And the best thing is that he is an employee of Indian railways. Indian Railways is proud to have such a family member.. We have decided to give him a cash award of Rs.10 lakh and an out-of-turn promotion,” Banerjee said at a function at New Jalpaiguri near here.

Sushil, 27, beat Russia’s Gogaev Alan 3-1 in the final round of the 66 kg category at the World Wrestling Championship in Moscow Sunday night. An assistant commercial manager in Indian Railways, he is at present posted in the Northern Railway.

Congratulating Sushil Kumar for becoming the world champion, Banerjee said: “He has created history in Indian sports with this spectacular achievement in Moscow.”

“It is the spirit, drive and dedication of Sushil Kumar that has led to his personal achievement and the national glory,” she said.

Complimenting him for “meeting the spectacular challenge with determination, strength and total confidence,” she added: “His victory is a victory for the ‘Rail Parivar’ and dedicated to the nation.”

In 2008, Sushil had won the bronze at the Beijing Olympics.

In Delhi, a ministry release said: “The railway minister’s award of Rs.10 lakh for Sushil Kumar’s historic achievement is in addition to other awards admissible to him as per norms”.

Sushil Kumar is the third railwayman to have podium finish in World Wrestling Championship.

Earlier, Railway sportspersons who brought glory to the nation included Bishambar Singh and Ramesh Kumar who had won a silver and a bronze in the earlier World Wrestling Championships in 1967 and in 2009 respectively, the release added.