Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold at the Tokyo Olympics significantly boosted the profile of athletics in India, prompting the government to ramp up its financial support for the sport ahead of the Paris Games. Paris Olympics was a mix of achievements and disappointments for the Indian contingent but the funding received by the athletes this time increased manifolds.
As reported by FirstPost, according to official data from the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), athletics received a substantial Rs. 96.08 crore, the largest portion of the nearly Rs. 470 crore allocated across 16 sports disciplines for Olympic preparations.
This represents a remarkable increase from the previous Olympic cycle, where athletics was allocated just Rs. 5.38 crore through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). The government’s increased investment reflected a commitment to building on Chopra’s success.
Indian athletes have also benefited from extensive foreign exposure trips, which are essential for their Olympic preparations. Shuttlers led with 81 trips, followed by shooters with 45, and track and field athletes with 31.
These trips, along with the funding, fall under three categories: the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) Senior Paris Cycle, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Neeraj Chopra was the second-highest individual recipient, with Rs. 5.72 crore directed toward coaching, training, and international competitions. The men’s doubles badminton duo, Satwik and Chirag, received Rs. 5.62 crore for coaching and support.
PV Sindhu was allocated Rs. 3.13 crore for her coach and training in Germany, along with 17 foreign exposure trips. Tokyo silver-medallist Mirabai Chanu received Rs. 2.74 crore for her coaching and training needs.
Read More: How Much Will It Cost India To Bid And Host Olympics 2036?
The funding process is thorough, involving a review of proposals submitted by athletes and national federations to SAI. These proposals are carefully evaluated by the Mission Olympic Cell, which also monitors athletes’ performance over time before approving the funds.
In terms of national camps, shooting saw the most activity, with 41 camps organized over the past three years, followed closely by archery and athletics. On an individual level, the Indian men’s hockey team received the highest funding at Rs. 41.81 crore, covering 76 national camps and 19 foreign exposure trips.
The increased funding and support across these various disciplines and athletes underscore India’s focused efforts to enhance its performance at the Paris Olympics, building on the momentum generated by Chopra’s remarkable achievement in Tokyo.
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: The Indian Express, The New Indian Express, FirstPost
This post is tagged under: Olympics 2024, Paris Olympics, Neeraj Chopra, Indian Athletics, Olympics, India At Olympics, Sports Funding, Olympic Preparation, Athlete Support, SAI India, TOPS, Indian Sports, Government Funding, International coaches, international tours, equipment
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.
