Majority of athletes selected under TOP accepted offer: Govt

Majority of the athletes who have been selected for funding by Sports Ministry under the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme for top-class training as part of preparation for 2016 Rio Olympics have consented to the government's offer.
Sports Ministry said in a release today that Rs one crore has been sanctioned to six athletes, including top shooters Abhinav Bindra, Heena Sidhu and Manavjit Singh Sandhu, and discus thrower Vikas Gowda.
"As on 20th March, 2015, 45 athletes have been identified from 6 disciplines of athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, wrestling and sailing have been identified as potential medal winners for Olympics 2016. Around 30 more athletes are to be identified from archery and athletics," the Ministry said in a release.

"Out of the 45 athletes, consent via email has been sent by 37 athletes, 23 have signed the agreement and 18 have given their programmes/requests for preparation for Olympics 2016. The programmes received from athletes are vetted by concerned National Sports Federation, coaches and experts.
"Based on the said feedback around Rs. 1 crore has already been released for 6 athletes namely Vikas Gowda (athletics), Abhinav Bindra, Heena Sidhu, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, (shooting), Aishwarya and Varsha (sailing). Further around Rs. 88 lakhs is in the pipeline to be released shortly subject to submission of clarifications/documents by athletes from archery, shooting, wrestling and athletics," it added.

The Ministry has initiated the TOP Scheme under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF). The scheme envisages identification of athletes who are potential medal winners in Olympics and providing support to them for preparation.
All athletes are being contacted proactively by the Sports Ministry to submit their programmes for grant of financial assistance. Total estimated budget for supporting 75 athletes from TOP scheme is around Rs 40 to 45 crores till Olympics 2016. The said support is over and above the support being provided by the department under Scheme of assistance to NSFs through SAI.