Rahane, Rijiju contribute to fight COVID-19

India's Test team vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has donated Rs 10 lakh to the Maharastra Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is just my tiny bit and a drop in the ocean. Will do my best to support in this difficult time. Meanwhile stay home stay safe," tweeted Rahane after Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackrey thanked him for his gesture.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has donated Rs 50 lakh, while former India player Suresh Raina has chipped in with Rs 52 lakh.

India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. Photograph: Ajinkya Rahane/Twitter

Maharashtra is one of the worst-affected states battling the novel coronavirus.

Rijiju donates one-month salary for fight against COVID-19 pandemic

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday donated a month’s salary over and above Prime Minister Narendra Modi's directive to all BJP MPs to contribute Rs one crore from MPLAD funds in the country's fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

"PM Narendra Modi ji announced #PMCares Fund to strengthen disaster management capacities and to encourage research on protecting citizens. It accepts micro-donations too. Let us contribute to make India healthier and more prosperous for our future generations. I've donated my one-month salary," Rijiju wrote on his Facebook page.

"Also keeping in touch with District Administration and authorized my nodal DC to use my MPLAD funds to purchase emergency medical kits to fight #COVID-19."

Karnataka State Cricket Association to donate Rs one crore

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on Sunday said it would donate Rs 50 lakh each to the central government and the state government for their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"KSCA through BCCI wish to contribute Rs 50 Lakhs to Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund and Rs 50 Lacs toward CM Karnataka Government State relief fund," said a KSCA spokesperson.

"The donation is towards strengthening the central and state in this disaster management capacities and encourage research to combat COVID-19 and protect the citizens.

"The KSCA will continue to monitor and work closely with Government of Karnataka and other state regulatory bodies and we are committed to provide any other necessary support to the state machinery," the spokesperson added.

Besides KSCA, the state associations who have come forward to help include Cricket Association of Bengal, Mumbai Cricket Association and Saurashtra Cricket Association.

CAB affiliated units and officials too came forward and announced their contributions through the state body.

"66 CAB match observers have pooled in Rs 1.5 lakh, while 82 scorers contributed their day's pay aggregating to an amount of Rs 77,420," CAB stated.

Representative of Mohammedan Sporting Club at the CAB, Dipak Singh donated Rs 2 lakh to the Relief Fund.

Former Women's Test Player Mithu Mukherjee has expressed her desire to contribute Rs 25,000.

Coach of Bengal Women's U23 team Jayanta Ghosh Dastidar would contribute Rs 10,000.

Among the affiliated units of CAB, White Border Club and Vijay Sports Club announced a donation of Rs 50,000 each.

Uttar Pally Milan Sangha, Suburban Club and Rangers Club would make contributions of Rs 25,000 each.

Among the District Sports Associations (DSA), Coochbehar DSA agreed to donate Rs. 10,000 to the State Relief Fund, the statement added.

Double Asian Para Games champion Sharad Kumar donates Rs 1 lakh

Double Asian Para Games high jump champion Sharad Kumar has donated Rs 1 lakh to the Prime Minister's relief fund for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I have donated 1 lakhs 1 Rupee to PM CARE FUND to tackle COVID19. 1% of my net," the 29-year-old from Bihar tweeted.

Kumar won a gold in the high jump T42 category in the 2014 Asian Para Games before climbing the top of the podium again in 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia in T42/63 category. He is also a 2017 IPC World Championships silver medallist.

The high jump T42/63 category is competed among athletes who have lower limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power and impaired range of movement.

The country is under a 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly virus that has claimed more than 30,000 lives globally. In India, 19 people have succumbed to the disease.