New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS): In a welcome move for players representing the Railways, the ministry has announced a new policy under which the sportspersons who won a position/medal in Olympics and those who have been awarded with Padma Shri will be promoted as officers.

According to a statement from the ministry, sportspersons, who have made two appearances in Olympics, won a medal in Asian Games/Commonwealth Games will be awarded with a promotion to the officer rank.

Further, Railway sportspersons who are winners of any of the awards like Arjuna/Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award would also be entitled to the said promotion.

"The contribution of the coaches to the successful performance of sportspersons has been duly acknowledged and any coach whose trainees have produced at least three medal winning performances in Olympic Games/World Cup/World Championship/Asian Games/Commonwealth Games including at least one medal in Olympic Games would be eligible to be promoted as an officer," the statement read.

"This liberalized promotion policy will act as an incentive to the country's elite sportspersons/coaches and reaffirms Railways commitment to the promotion of sports in the country," it added.