Guwahati: The Assam government decided to bear the expenses of Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain and sprinter Hima Das who is known as ‘Dhing Express’ for their preparations of the Olympics.
The decision was taken during the state cabinet meeting held in Guwahati under Chairmanship of Assam chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Announcing the cabinet decisions, Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said that, the state government has decided to pay Rs 2.5 lakh per month to the coach of Lovlina Borgohain for the preparation of the Olympics.
“The Assam government will provide Rs 2.5 lakh per month to the coach of Lovlina Borgohain till 2024 Olympic games. Apart from Lovlina, the state government will provide Rs 1 lakh per month for coaching of Hima Das for the preparation of next Olympic games,” Keshab Mahanta said.
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Earlier, when Lovlina Borgohain arrived in her home state after securing the bronze medal in boxing at Tokyo Olympics last August, she was welcomed to a rousing reception. She was presented a cheque of Rs 1 crore by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. She also was offered a DSP post in Assam police for her feat in the Tokyo Olympics.
The CM also said that a sports complex worth Rs 25 crore will be built at her native village, Sarupathar, to help the local youngsters excel in sports. A road in Guwahati was also named after Lovlina.
Indian sprinter Hima Das was also inducted as Deputy Superintendent of Assam Police in February last year. In a ceremony organised in Guwahati, the then Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal handed her the appointment letter in front of the state police department, including the Director General of police. Das said she has always harboured the dream of becoming a police officer. “Since my early school days, I wanted to become a police officer one day and my mother also wished that,” she said.
India Blooms News Service
