Lucknow: UP CM Yogi Adityanath was taken by surprise on Sunday after Asian Games gold medallist and nine-time national champion in 3,000m steeplechase Sudha Singh refused to accept a cheque of Rs 30 lakh from him until she was promised a job with the state’s sports directorate at an event here.

The athlete was reportedly miffed over the government’s refusal to offer her deputy director’s post in the Uttar Pradesh sports directorate.

Sudha had bagged a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games (Guangzhou) and a silver in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Sudha said the chief minister at the event assured her of the post. “I didn't ask him (CM Yogi) for a job. He himself offered me position of Dy SP. Then I said that according to my medals, I want to join as Deputy Director in sports dept. He agreed. I've faith in him. I'm at a gazetted post in railway dept in Mumbai,” she told news agency ANI.

Explaining her desire to work in the sports department, the athlete further said, “If I think about me only, there is no better job than in Railway dept in Mumbai.But I wanted to contribute to sports & that's why I wanted to work in sports department in UP. If there is even a single certificate missing, I'll apologise for demanding this job."