State offers job and cash prize to Sreejesh

Thiruvananthapuram: The State government Wednesday offered a job and announced a cash prize of Rs 15 lakhs to national hockey team vice-captain P R Sreejesh, whose stellar performance in front of the goal helped India beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the Incheon Asian Games.

Announcing this at a media briefing after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy expressed hope that Sreejesh, who hails from Kerala, would accept the government job in the Education Department.

The 26-year old Sreejesh came up with two vital saves in the shoot-out in the final as India ended its 16-year gold medal drought in the Asian Games and earned a direct berth to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Chandy said the Cabinet also decided to extend cash prizes to other gold, silver and bronze medal winners from the state in the Asian Games held in South Korean city of Incheon earlier this month.

Ace athlete Tintu Luka, who won one gold and a silver medal, would get a cash prize of Rs 25 lakhs while squash player Dipika Pallikal Rs17.50 lakhs and bronze medal winners O P Jaisha, P C Thulasi and P U Robin would get Rs 7.50 lakhs each.

Former sprint queen and Luka's mentor P T Usha and two other coaches would get Rs two lakh each.