Govt to bear Sochi team's expenses

The Sports Ministry has cleared with cost the four Indians who have qualified for the Winter Olympics to be held in the Russian city of Sochi in February even though they are not participating in the quadrennial event under the national flag.

Due to the suspension of the IOA from Olympic fold, the four Indians – Shiva Keshavan, Nadeem Iqbal, Hira Lal and Himanshu Thakur – are taking part in the February 7-23 Winter Olympics as Independent Athletes under the banner of the IOC. “I have approached the Sports Ministry, which said that there would not be any issue on the participation of the four athletes. I have been told they will be cleared on government expenses,” Winter Games federation of India secretary General Roshan Lal Thakur said.