President congratulates Indian team

President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday congratulated the Indian football team for winning the ONGC Nehru Cup football tournament in New Delhi.

A solitary goal from N P Pradeep against Syria clinched India's victory in the tournament at the floodlit Ambedkar Stadium.

Earlier, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee had called Indian skipper Baichung Bhutia to congratulate the team for the triumph.

India received a winners' prize of USD 40,000 while the Syrians had to settle for half that amount.

There was further windfall for the Indians as ONGC announced a 100 per cent bonus for them. Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit chipped in with Rs five lakh while All India Football Federation announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh.