Chief minister Arjun Munda hands over certificate and cheque to archer Deepika Kumari while Team India captain MS Dhoni and deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto look on in Ranchi on Friday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Dec. 9: “Der hua, par finally mila toh...” Ace archer Deepika Kumari’s words of relief that roughly translate into the adage better late than never best summed up the government’s cash reward ceremony for winners of the 34th National Games in Morabadi today after nine months of labour.

The handsome medal moolah was cool, but cooler was the natty Team India skipper in a beige blazer and jeans who urged the Arjun Munda government to let athletes and players use the world-class mega sports complex in Hotwar.

The much-awaited function began at the gloriously lit up and florally embellished Birsa Munda Football Stadium 90 minutes behind schedule because the chief minister had to return to Ranchi from Bhavnathpur in Garhwa after completing his three-day road yatra.

Of the 194 winners, including 25 coaches, 141 turned up for the felicitation. Dapper in Games blazers and white shirt and trousers, the men beamed, while draped in orange saris, the women glowed as Munda and M.S. Dhoni handed over the cheques. Organisers said the remaining players could not make it to the event owing to engagements outside the state.

Deepika, who was the first to be honoured with Rs 8.5 lakh for winning a team gold and individual silver, told The Telegraph that she would use the money to build herself and her family a new home. Pugilist Aruna Mishra, who bagged gold, received a cheque for Rs 7 lakh. Diver Hemjit Meitei, who bagged a gold and a silver, received Rs 12 lakh, the highest amount of prize money.

Jharkhand had ranked fifth in the February Games with 33 gold, 26 silver and 37 bronze. A sum of Rs 5.97 crore was earmarked for the medallists and Rs 99.5 lakh set aside for their coaches.

The event, which bagged the maximum cash prize, was lawn ball with Rs 71 lakh in its kitty followed by boxing (Rs 67 lakh), archery (Rs 64 lakh) and weightlifting (Rs 53 lakh). Hockey (men), hockey (women) and judo events pocketed Rs 25 lakh each.

When Munda had promised the cash prize at the closing ceremony of the Games, a crowd of 32,000 had cheered his decision at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium in Hotwar. Ironically today, the galleries mostly remained unoccupied. Only a thousand enthusiasts cheered, albeit for Dhoni.

Addressing the gathering, Captain Cool exhorted players to perform even better. “We had bagged 14 medals in the 2007 Games and the tally jumped to 96 in 2011,” he pointed out.

During his four-minute speech, Dhoni asked the state government to allow players practise at Hotwar. “You must maintain the winning spree. There is no short cut to success in life,” he told athletes, many of whom had wanted to return their medals because the government did not keep its promise.

The Team India captain added that he was always ready to aid the development of sports in Jharkhand.

Chief minister Munda, who vowed to take the state on India’s sporting zenith, however, disappointed Dhoni by skirting the issue on land for his proposed sports academy. The promise of land had been made by the chief minister and his deputy Sudesh Mahto after India’s World Cup victory.

Munda, during his eight-minute speech, said that Jharkhand had always spawned bravehearts. “The world-class infrastructure (at Hotwar) will be a grooming centre for sportsmen. Players who live in huts will make Jharkhand proud at national and international events,” he said.

Sports minister Sudesh Mahto, the only person to publicly admit the delay in giving away cash prizes, said the state government was keen on promoting athletics and other games disciplines.

State co-ordination committee chairman Shibu Soren, Assembly Speaker C.P. Singh and deputy chief minister Hemant Soren were present at today’s ceremony.

Dhoni was accompanied by wife Sakshi. The better half of the chief minister, Meera Munda, and Mahto’s wife Neha also greeted players on the dais.

A host of cultural programmes led by Mukund Nayak’s troupe regaled the thin audience after the felicitation.