IIFCL to invest Rs.30 crore for TOP scheme

The sports ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with public sector company India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) to provide Rs.30 crore to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme.

The company will shell out Rs.10 crore each year for three years under its initiatives for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a sports ministry release said on Tuesday.

"The IIFCL has contributed Rs.10 crore to the NSDF in March 2015. The contribution will be used to fund the activities of the sport of Badminton under TOP Scheme," Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.

A list of 45 sportspersons in the disciplines of Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Shooting, Wrestling and Sailing have already been selected for their customised training under the TOP scheme.

The criteria for selection of players for the scheme was criticised by badmintion doubles specialists Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa after they were omitted from the list of the players identified to benefit from the project.

Sonowal said any player who reaches the "prescribed benchmark" put in place by the ministry for induction in the scheme will be included.

"There has been representation from Ms Jwala Gutta and Ms Ashwini Ponnappa, badminton players (Doubles), for their inclusion in the TOP Scheme. There is provision for periodic review of performance of sportspersons, who reach the prescribed benchmark, for induction in the Scheme," he said.

The government has released a sum of Rs.96.80 lakh for the scheme.

The TOP Scheme has been formulated within the overall ambit of the NSDF with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for 2016 and 2020 Olympics Games.