New Delhi, Feb 29 (IANS): Hockey India's (HI) chief sponsor Sahara India Tuesday announced a cash award of Rs.1.29 crore for the Indian men's national team after the eight-time Olympic champions qualified for the 2012 London Games.

Sahara will be giving Rs.11 lakh each to Sardar Singh, captain in the final against France, and Sandeep Singh, who was the top scorer with 16 goals. India had missed the 2008 Beijing Games for the first time in 80 years.

The rest of the team members will get Rs.5 lakh each while the support staff will get an incentive of Rs.1 lakh each.

Sahara chairman Subrata Roy said: "We are very proud that India performed so well in this tournament. Hockey is our national game and we are proud of being associated with it. This reward is a small token of appreciation from us to encourage the sportsmen and the support staff to achieve greater success and bring laurels to our beloved nation through our national sport."

Sahara India earlier this month had renewed its support with HI. The new sponsorship deal for five years is valued at around Rs.8 crore per year, a substantial hike from the earlier Rs.3 crore per year, and will cover both the men and the women's teams in the senior and junior categories.