Sanjita Chanu and Yuki Bhambri dropped from government’s TOP scheme
Weightlifter Sanjita Chanu, who won gold in recently concluded Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, has been dropped from the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme, along with tennis player Yuki Bhambri. Men's tennis doubles specialist Divij Sharan has been included in the scheme till the Asian Games.
Sanjita Chanu, who won gold medal in women's 53kg class at the Gold Coast CWG in April, had tested positive for an anabolic steroid in a test conducted during the World Championships in USA in November last year and she has been put under provisional suspension. Due to the suspension, Chanu has been dropped from government’s TOP scheme.Â
"It was decided to drop Sanjita from the TOPS as she stands suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation on doping charges," the Sports Authority of India said in a statement as quoted by TOI.Â
Tennis player Yuki Bhambri, who has been the top ranked Indian in men’s single category, was left out as well as he would not be taking part in the upcoming Asian Games as the dates clash with the US Open. He was exempted by All Indian Tennis Association from Asian Games as he stood a good chance of qualifying for the main draw of US Open.
"The committee has also decided to exclude men's singles player Yuki Bhambri from the TOPS as he will not be playing in the Asian Games," the SAI said.
Men's doubles specialist Divij Sharan, who has been in good form in the recent past, has been included in the scheme till the Asian Games. The decisions were taken at the Mission Olympic Cell meeting here to clear funding proposals regarding training, competition and equipment needs.
In other decisions, Rohan Bopanna has been sanctioned Rs 26.03 lakh for the use of coach and physio for 12 weeks, starting May 7.
“A total of Rs 26.03 lakhs has been sanctioned by the committee to Rohan Bopanna for the use of a coach and physio for a period of 12 weeks starting 7th May. Bopanna, who is a part of India's 2018 Asian Games squad, is a prolific doubles player and reached the semifinals of the mixed doubles event in the 2016 Olympics," it said.Â
Rs 65.42 lakhs was sanctioned for trap shooters Shreyasi Singh, Seema Tomar, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Ankur Mittal and Shardul Vihan for training and participating in a competition in Italy ahead of the Asian Games.
An amount of Rs 1.43 lakh was approved for the purchase of ammunition for Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anish Bhanwala.
The committee also approved the hiring of physiotherapist Shrikant Iyengar for weightlifters Mirabai Chanu, Rakhi Halder, Jeremy and Pardeep Singh for five-and-half months, starting June 15 at an expense of Rs 1.76 lakh.
The committee also sanctioned Rs 4.91 lakh to squash player Joshna Chinappa for a month's training in Bristol. Rs 9.53 lakh was given to archers Abhishek Verma, V Jyothi Surekha, Atanu Das, Deepika Kumari and Bombayla Devi along with their coach Jiwanjot Singh Teja for participation in the World Cup in USA from June 16-25.