Winter Olympians get boost

 The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has sanctioned a grant of Rs 10.52 lakh for the purchase of sports equipment and other essential items for athletes participating in in the Winter Olympics Games. 
 

This was decided at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) held here last week.

“Although such assistance is not normally given from NSDF, the executive committee decided to extend the assistance as a special case in view of the importance of the event,” the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

 Three sportspersons — Shiva Keshavan (Luge),  Himanshu Thakur (Alpine Skiing) and Nadeem Iqbal (Alpine Skiing) have qualified for the Sochi Winter Olympics beginning on February 7.

The grant from NSDF is in addition to the assistance for sports kit, air fare, accommodation etc already sanctioned for the participants of the Winter Olympics.
“Earlier Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has also sanctioned financial assistance of about Rs 34.00 Lakh to Shiva Keshavan for training for preparation of the Winter Olympics,” the ministry release added.