LPU announces Rs 25 lakh cash reward for Vinesh Phogat despite disqualification

Lovely Professional University (LPU) has announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakhs for its student Vinesh Phogat. The university had earlier announced the reward for silver medallist winner students in the Paris Olympics. Despite this heartbreaking moment for Indian sports fans, LPU has stood firmly behind its students., the university said.

"For us, Vinesh is still a medal winner. Her dedication and skill throughout her journey deserve recognition, and we are proud to award her the promised prize money of ₹25 lakhs, which was reserved for silver medalists," Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Rajya Sabha MP and Founder Chancellor of LPU, said.

Vinesh Phogat had earlier scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the final of a wrestling event in the Olympic Games. However, due to a narrow margin of just 100 grams, she was found overweight during the weigh-in on the morning of the competition, leading to her disqualification.


Before the start of Paris Olympics, LPU announced a cash reward program for students for medal winners at the Paris Olympics. It announced that gold medalists will receive Rs 50 lakh, silver medalists Rs 25 lakh and bronze Rs 10 lakh.

The university said that 24 LPU students are competing in the Olympics across various sports disciplines, including javelin, wrestling, hockey, athletics, weightlifting, shooting, and boxing. "This contingent accounts for 21 per cent of the overall Indian team, making LPU the second-largest contingent globally after Stanford University (US)," it said.