New Delhi: Buoyed by the silver medal winning performance of Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Aug 24, 2004) announced that Army would expand facilities for Services sports personnel to create more medal winners.

Congratulating the shooter on his feat at a special function held in his honour in South Block, Mukherjee said, "we have taken certain decisions" to expand competitive sports facilities to roll out more medal winners.

Rathore won the silver medal in men's double trap shooting event at the Athens Games on August 17.

"We have been encouraged by in-house talent hunting," the Minister said, as he pointed out that the new infrastructural facilities, which have been undertaken under 'Mission Olympics', would be completed by 2005.

Mukherjee said Rs 60 crore were sanctioned to create this world-class infrastructure of which Rs 10 crore have been spent by now.

He said four 'Mission Olympic' sportsmen had participated in Athens Olympics with Rathore making history by becoming the first ever Indian to win an Olympic silver medal in an individual event.