Railways to promote Asiad champions Phogat, Punia to officer rank

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had approved a new policy for promotion of railway sportspersons on August 3.

Vinesh Phogat made history after she became the first Indian woman to win a gold at Asian Games.

The railways will promote wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat to the rank of gazetted officers after they won gold medals at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, ministry officials said on Tuesday.

A senior railway ministry official said that they would be promoted as per railway rules.

On August 3, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had approved a new policy for promotion of railway sportspersons whereby in addition to the sportspersons who won a position or medal in Olympics, all those sportspersons and coaches who have been awarded with Padma Shri will be promoted as officers.

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“In order to give due recognition to the effort put in by the sportspersons, who have made two appearances in Olympics, won a medal in Asian Games/Common Wealth Games, it has now been decided to award them with a promotion to the officer rank,” the ministry had said in a statement.

Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Asian Games gold after she defeated Japan’s Yuki Irie in the 50 kilogram women’s freestyle final. Punia clinched the gold medal after defeating Daichi Takatani of Japan 11—8 in the final of the men’s freestyle 65 kg category.