India's Top Athletes Get Boost as Revised TOPS List Includes Performers of Last Year
Image Source: Internet
New Delhi: The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) has finally included some of last year's best performers from various sports in its revised list. The government's flagship programme provides funding and holistic support to India's elite athletes, helping them realise their potential in major events.
Shooters and boxers were the biggest beneficiaries, following a year of sustained performances at the world level. In a year featuring the Asian Games, and with the LA Olympics qualification cycle set to begin, TOPS and TAGG (Target Asian Games Group) are a crucial support system for athletes seeking personal coaches, trainers, and foreign exposure.
The revised list includes 10m air pistol world champion Samrat Rana, new pistol sensation Suruchi Phogat, and rifle 3 position shooter Niraj Kumar, who finished fifth in the world championships in November. In boxing, world champion Jaismine Lamboria (57) has been upgraded from the development to the core group.
Distance runner Gulveer Singh, who set national records in the 5000m and 10,000m events, has also been moved to the core group from development. Badminton's mixed doubles pair of Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila — world ranked 20 — is also part of the core group.
Tokyo Paralympic Games medallist Pramod Bhagat, besides another para shuttler Naveen Sivakumar, has been included in the list. Consistency in results over time is considered when assessing the athletes.
The list was revised after a meeting of the Mission Olympic Cell, headed by TOPS CEO N S Johal, on Wednesday. Niraj Kumar, a member of India's 3P team, said being in TOPS core group will be a big help.
Every TOPS core group shooter gets around 150 rounds of ammunition for training. A TOPS core group athlete gets a monthly stipend of ₹50,000, besides personal coaches, foreign training, equipment, and other facilities. Developmental group athletes get ₹25,000 as a monthly stipend and other facilities to prepare.
Fifty-seven athletes have been added to the TOPS development group. It includes 22 boxers, 13 shooters, and eight archers.
Promising shuttler Devika Sihag who won the Thailand Masters in February, features in the development group. Among the boxers, Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Hitesh Gulia (70kg), Sachin (60kg), Arundhati Chaudhary (70kg) are among those included in the development group.
Rishabh Das (200m backstroke) is the only swimmer in the updated list. There have been a few additions in TAGG as well. Prominent among them is Hangzhou Asian Games gold medallist javelin thrower Annu Rani.
