Mysuru: Mysuru Zilla Kreeda Mathu Samskruthika Vedike felicitated B. Chaithra and M.K. Gautham, kho kho stars from Mysuru and Mandya respectively, who were a part of the World Cup winning Indian women’s and men’s kho kho teams at a function organised at Jaganmohan Palace auditorium, in city yesterday.

Both Chaithra and Gautham were handed over cash rewards by the representatives of various organisations on the occasion.

Speaking after receiving the felicitation, Chaithra and Gautham expressed their gratitude to several organisations for recognising their achievement and also thanked their respective coaches and parents and Kho Kho Association of Karnataka for their continuous encouragement.

Later, in his presidential address, Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association President Kuruburu Shanthakumar condemned the State Government for announcing a mere Rs. 5 lakh cash reward for the World Cup winning kho kho champs.

Demanding the State Government to reconsider the amount declared as cash reward for the champs, he stated that a delegation would soon meet the Chief Minister  seeking a suitable government job for the kho kho achievers.

Kho kho player and Arjuna Awardee Shobha Narayan also voiced her support for the increase of cash reward and expressed her disappointment over kho kho players not being considered for Arjuna and Ekalavya Awards.

University of Mysore, Department of Physical Education, former Director Dr. C. Krishna, Mountaineer and Professor at JSS Dental College Dr. Usha Hegde,                 Kannada Kala Koota President M. Chandrashekar, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, District Sharana Sahitya Parishat President Dr. Helavarahundi Siddappa and others were present.