New Delhi, India, March 30, 2020: Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, on Sunday lauded 15-year-old shooter Esha Singh for contributing to India’s PM-CARES FUND to aid the battle against COVID-19.
Esha Singh, junior World Cup medallist, donated Rs. 30,000 (US$800).
“Dear @singhesha10, you are just 15 years old but you have shown that you are a real champion! What a beautiful gesture by such generous contribution to #PMCARES Fund,” Rijiju tweeted.
Indian sportsmen and women have rallied around the national cause to raise funds to fight the coronavirus. Earlier, cricketers Suresh Raina donated Rs. 51 lakhs (US$136,000) and Sachin Tendulkar gave Rs. 50 lakhs (US$133,000).
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi created Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund and appealed to all Indians to show their support for the cause.
Other Indian athletes who have come forward to help the country include sprinter Hima Das, who last week said she would donate a month’s salary to the Assam government’s coronavirus relief fund, Rio 2016 badminton silver medallist PV Sindhu, who gave Rs. 500,000 (US$13,300), and wrestler Bajrang Punia.