"Don't break players morale": Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat slam Haryana Government after cuts in Prize money

Medal-winning athletes and wrestlers from the state of Haryana hit out at the Manohar Lal Khattar government for consistently disrespecting the sports fraternity after the govt failed to formally felicitate the athletes. Adding to the troubles, the government also announced a cut in their prize money. 

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Gold medallist at the 2018 Asian Games, Bajrang Punia hit out at the state government, saying that laurel winning wrestlers from Haryana represented not only the state but the entire country and that such demoralizing acts of the government will break the morale of the athletes. 

"The youths from Haryana have given such splendid medals to the state. Even if the state is a bit small, athletes from the state have made India proud all over the world. Their morale should not be broken by cutting down the prize money given to them. I urge the Haryana government to rethink on the decision," said Bajrang Punia in the tweet. 

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Adding her opinion in the matter, Gold medalist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Vinesh Phogat took to Twitter and lashed out at Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij, saying that the government has made its mind to not respect the athletes.

"Dear sir, it seems like you had decided five years ago when you came to power that neither you will leave any athlete in Haryana, nor their respect. Be it a small or a big athlete, none of the athletes is happy with your policies," Vinesh Phogat said in her tweet. 

In her second tweet, she attacked Anil Vij and CM Khattar saying that she has never seen such disrespect of the athletes in the state.

"Every time you try to disrespect the athlete. I have never such government which disrespects athletes in Haryana. I want to ask the government how many athletes have been given the prize money or have been given job," she tweeted.

Wrestlers and athletes of the state have come out in protest against the state's negligent and lax policy on sports and the kind of respect given to the medal-winning sportsmen. The government's actions of cutting down the prize money and not providing employment to these medalists are unjustified, indicating that the state government has failed to deliver its promise. 

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