Sports Ministry announces Rs. 10 lakh cash award for Anand

The union sports ministry has announced a Rs. 10 lakh cash award for Viswanathan Anand, crowned the World Chess Champion for the fifth time.

'We have a cash award for any sportsperson who wins in Asian Championships, Worlds, Olympics or any other major event. So, on the basis of that we have decided to give Rs. 10 lakh as a cash award to Anand. It is a standard policy followed by the ministry,' Sports Minister Ajay Maken said here Thursday.

Anand beat Israel's Boris Gelfand in Moscow on Wednesday.