Ministry of Youth and Sports on Thursday provided cash incentives to cricketers, footballers and bodybuilder Maheshwar Maharjan for their accomplishments.

The cash incentives were provided to the players as per the promise made earlier. The cricketers were rewarded for their first ever bilateral series win — Twenty20 and One Day International series over United Arab Emirates in January and February. Nepal had won both Twenty20 and ODI series 2-1. Each members of the team were given Rs 500,000 while coach Jagat Tamatta was given Rs 300,000 and other member of the squad Rs 200,000 each.

Bodybuilder Maharjan was also rewarded with cash prize of Rs 500,000 for winning gold in men’s 75kg during the 10th World Bodybuilding Championships held in Thailand in December last year. He is the first Nepali bodybuilder to claim gold in World Championships. The Ministry distributed cash prize of Rs 300,000 to the members of the men’s football team that won gold during 2016 South Asian Games in India. Nepal had overcome a goal deficit to beat India 2-1 in the final with a goal each from Prakash Budhathoki and Ranjan Bista.

As per the announcement, the footballers were supposed to receive Rs 500,000 each but the government had given Rs 200,000 the same year with rest of the amount pending. It, however, took too long for the player to get the remaining amount. Minister for Youth and Sports Jagat Bishwakarma Sunar, National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista among other handed over the incentives to the players..