Bhubaneswar, Oct 30 (IANS) The Odisha government Wednesday announced a Rs.1 crore award for sportspersons from the state for winning gold medals in the Olympics, World Championships and the Asian Games.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has decided to double the cash award given that the centre gives to medal winners, a release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

The centre gives Rs.50 lakh to gold medalists, Rs.30 lakh to silver medalists and Rs.20 lakh to bronze medal winners. While doubling the cash award for gold medal winners, the Odisha government said that silver and bronze medallists would be given Rs.60 lakh and Rs.40 lakh respectively.

Similarly, the government has announced to double the amount to the medallists in World Cup and World Championships and Commonwealth Games. It would also give double amount in the junior and sub-junior level international participants bringing laurel to the state and the country.

The Chief Minister hopes that it would encourage the budding talents of the state.