Sports Ministry recently approved financial support requests from several elite athletes ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics, including Olympic-bound individuals such as boxer Nikhat Zareen, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, and table tennis player Manika Batra. The ministry sanctioned funding for training abroad under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
Athletes under benefits of Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS):
Boxers Nikhat Zareen, Preeti Pawar, Parveen Hooda, and Lovlina Borgohain, along with their coaches and a physio, are set to travel to Turkey for a foreign training camp. Wrestlers Sujeet, Deepak Punia, and Naveen, accompanied by sparring partners, a coach, and physiotherapists, will head to Russia to prepare for the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament.
Shotgun shooter Bhowneesh Mendiratta, who secured a Paris quota place, will undergo training in Italy with personal coach Daniele Di Spigno for the ISSF World Cup in Baku. Additionally, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medallist Sreeshankar’s proposal to compete in the Diamond League in Suzhou and Doha received approval.
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How will Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) benefit the athletes?
TOPS will cover expenses such as airfare, boarding/lodging, out-of-pocket allowances, visa fees, and medical insurance for these athletes. Moreover, top table tennis player Manika Batra will receive support for participation in the WTT Feeder Varazdin in Croatia, accompanied by coach Aman Balgu for the World Mixed Doubles Olympic Qualification Event in Havirov, Czech Republic. Furthermore, three shooters and a para-badminton player were included in the TOPS core group for the current Olympic cycle.
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