Manu Bhaker, Manika Batra, Rohan Bopanna added to TOP scheme
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Sports Authority of India has added Manu Bhaker, Manika Batra, Rohan Bopanna among 29 players to the Target Olympic Podium scheme, under which players will get monthly financial support of Rs 50,000. The committee also sanctioned an amount of Rs 8.75 lakhs for Bajrang Punia’s training in Georgia.
In an attempt to provide assistance to India’s top athletes, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has added as many as 29 players to the list for Target Olympic Podium Scheme and will look to add a premium to the preparations of these athletes so that they can win Olympic medals in 2020 and 2024 Olympics. On the list, there have been as many as 16 shooters, including Manu
Apart from the star duo, Mehuli Ghosh (women’s 10m air rifle), Anish Bhanwala (men’s 25m rapid fire pistol), Elavenil
Six shooters are also under consideration for the development group for the 2024 Olympics. Hriday Hazarika (Men’s 10m Air Rifle), Divyansh Panwar (Men’s 10m Air Rifle), Shreya Agrawal (Women’s 10m Air Rifle), Aishwarya Pratap Tomar (Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Position), Esha Singh (Women’s 10m Air Pistol), Manisha Keer (Women’s Trap) will be under SAI’s wings and the ministry will take care of their expenses.
“There was an intense deliberation over the inclusion of Heena Sidhu and Jitu Rai in the scheme. The committee post the discussion agreed to keep them on a watchlist along with a few other athletes, and it was decided to take a call on their inclusion in the scheme, post the World Cup in February 2019 to be held in New Delhi,” the release said in a press release.
Among the tennis stars, Asian Games gold medallists Divij Sharan and Rohan Bopanna found their names on latest TOPS list and Sania Mirza’s name will be added once she starts training.
“The committee also decided that Sania Mirza could be considered for inclusion at a later date for mixed doubles depending on her plans to recommence training,” the release added.
Table Tennis stars Manika Batra, Achanta Sharath Kamal, and G Sathiyan were also included in the scheme. Meanwhile, Manav Thakkar and Archana Kamath were selected under the developmental group for the 2024 Olympics.
The TOPs committee also sanctioned an amount of Rs 8.75 lakhs for 25 days of training for star wrestler Bajrang Punia in Georgia ahead of the Asian Championships along with his coach, fitness trainer.
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