Delhi govt sets up committees of experts to select and groom sports talent

Delhi government has formed two special committees of experts including sportspersons like Olympic medalist Karnam Malleshwari and shooter Gagan Narang that will be responsible for selecting and grooming sports talent in the national capital.

Rajeev Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto Limited, is also among the members, said a government official.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday chaired two important meetings with the special committees of experts to discuss further modalities for implementation of the government's policies to support budding sportspersons in the city.

Sisodia said the problem in sports administration is that the decision making powers are held by those who have had no link with sports in their lives.

The Delhi government recently announced two new policies to promote sportspersons and groom talent in Delhi. It also "substantially" hiked cash awards for sportspersons winning medals in Asian Games.

Under the Play & Progress Scheme', talent in sports at school level, below 14 years, will get Rs two lakh per annum directly from the Delhi government. Students in 14-17 years bracket will get Rs three lakh per annum.

Any student who has studied in Delhi for the past three years is eligible for financial assistance, and such students will also be eligible for specialised training at designated centres, said the official.

The games shortlisted for this scheme are athletics, badminton, swimming, hockey, wrestling, cricket, football, boxing, gymnastics, Kabaddi, basketball, Judo/Karate, table tennis and Baseball. Specialised training for these sportspersons is available at 18 centres in the city including at Chhatrasal stadium, Thyagraj stadium, East Vinod Nagar sports complex, Najafgarh stadium among others.

The 'Mission Excellence' policy is targeted to benefit sportspersons already established in sporting world. The government will provide fund for training and coaching of 100 Delhi based sportspersons under the scheme.