Ministry rolls out TOPS scheme

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 20

Rolling out its ambitious Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the Sports Ministry on Monday informed that 45 athletes from six disciplines have been identified under the project, which promises enhanced flow of funds, competition exposure and training in the run up to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Out of the 45 athletes, 23 sportspersons have signed the agreement while another 18 have shared their programme details for the Rio Games with the Ministry. The identified disciplines include athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, wrestling and sailing.

The training-cum-competition details received from the athletes have been vetted by the concerned National Sports Federation (NSF), coaches and sports experts on the TOPS panel.

An amount of Rs 1 crore has already been released to Vikas Gowda (athletics), Abhinav Bindra, Heena Sidhu, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, (shooting), Aishwarya and Varsha (sailing).

“Further around Rs 88 lakh would be released shortly subject to submission of clarifications/documents by athletes from archery, shooting, wrestling and athletics. Around 30 more athletes are to be identified from archery and athletics disciplines,” a Ministry release said.

“The total estimated budget for supporting 75 athletes from TOPS is around Rs 40 to 45 crore till the Olympics. The said support is over and above the support being provided by the department under scheme of assistance to NSFs through SAI,” the release added.

The TOPS was scheduled to begin in November last but a majority in the core group of 75 refused to sign the agreement, expressing concerns that the scheme seeks to block the external support the medal hopefuls have been getting from non-profit organisations like the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), Anglian Medal Hunt and Jindal Sports Foundation.

The Ministry has, however, made it clear that athletes will not be allowed to enter into any new association with any private sponsor or donor after March 1, 2015 without its prior written consent. Once the permission is granted, the athletes will have to inform the Ministry of the nature of support so that there is no duplication of funding or work.