<p>Gururaja Poojary, who won the silver medal in weightlifting in the Commonwealth Games held in Australia, is yet to get the cash prize and job announced by the governmenbt even three months after winning the medal.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gururaj, a native of Jeddu in Kundapura taluk, had won the silver medal in the 56–kg category. He has the credit of winning the first medal for India at the Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Former minister for Sports and Youth Empowerment Pramod Madhwaraj had announced a cash prize and 'B' group government employment for him. Unfortunately, both the promises have not been kept so far.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The central government had given Rs 20 lakh to Poojary within a month of the Commonwealth Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I had met officials from the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports in Bengaluru, who informed me that I will be eligible for the Rs 15-lakh cash award. After winning the medal, I was honoured at my native place. Unfortunately, the state government is yet to recognise my achievement. A situation has come where I have to beg for the award amount. The government is not supporting sports,” Poojary said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jithendra Shetty, deputy director of the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, said there was delay as there were elections in the state. Medal-winning sports talents will be honoured shortly, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gururaja is a low-ranking Indian Air Force employee. Son of a truck driver, Gururaja had aspired to be a wrestler before being pushed into weightlifting by his coach after seeing his potential.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I have achieved overcoming poverty. I have also won gold medal in the Commonwealth Championship in 2016 and gold medal in the South Asian Games in 2016. The government should support sports talents like other states do,” he said.</p>
<p>Gururaja Poojary, who won the silver medal in weightlifting in the Commonwealth Games held in Australia, is yet to get the cash prize and job announced by the governmenbt even three months after winning the medal.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gururaj, a native of Jeddu in Kundapura taluk, had won the silver medal in the 56–kg category. He has the credit of winning the first medal for India at the Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Former minister for Sports and Youth Empowerment Pramod Madhwaraj had announced a cash prize and 'B' group government employment for him. Unfortunately, both the promises have not been kept so far.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The central government had given Rs 20 lakh to Poojary within a month of the Commonwealth Games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I had met officials from the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports in Bengaluru, who informed me that I will be eligible for the Rs 15-lakh cash award. After winning the medal, I was honoured at my native place. Unfortunately, the state government is yet to recognise my achievement. A situation has come where I have to beg for the award amount. The government is not supporting sports,” Poojary said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jithendra Shetty, deputy director of the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, said there was delay as there were elections in the state. Medal-winning sports talents will be honoured shortly, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gururaja is a low-ranking Indian Air Force employee. Son of a truck driver, Gururaja had aspired to be a wrestler before being pushed into weightlifting by his coach after seeing his potential.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I have achieved overcoming poverty. I have also won gold medal in the Commonwealth Championship in 2016 and gold medal in the South Asian Games in 2016. The government should support sports talents like other states do,” he said.</p>