Men's hockey team included in TOPS

The 18-member Indian men's hockey team selected for the Asian Games has been included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) scheme, the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) decided on Wednesday.

Under the scheme, the hockey team will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 50,000 per team member.

“Support for training, equipment and coaches is already being provided to the hockey team through the Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions. This decision was taken in view of the recent improvement in the performance of the men’s hockey team under the newly appointed coach Harendra Singh. In the recent Champions Trophy, the team won a silver medal,” SAI stated.

The women’s hockey team, however, would be considered for TOPS inclusion after review of their performance in the World Cup and the Asian Games.

The MOC also reviewed the performance of athletes included under the TOPS. Boxer Sarjubala Devi received an extension in the scheme while four athletes, three from wushu and one from judo were dropped due to below-par performance and non-inclusion in India's Asian Games squad. The decisions to clear funding proposals regarding training, competition and equipment needs were also taken for the Asian Games participants.

The MOC informed Rs 7.76 lakh has been earmarked for the month-long training programme of gymnasts Pranati Nayak. Also, approximately Rs 14 lakh has been given for the training camp in Belgium of Ashish Kumar and Aruna Budda Reddy for a 32-day programme.

In tennis, Rs 12.57 lakh will be cleared for India No 2 Ramkumar Ramanathan for his training (under coach Angel Gimenez Alonso), competition and equipment expenses.

Further, Rs 4.04 lakh has been approved for Sergio Pagni to train India's compound archers for 10 days at the SAI Sonepat centre. Abhishek Verma, Rajat Chauhan, Trisha Deb and Jyothi Surekha Vennam will take the training.

Rs 11.48 lakh has been alloted for the purchase of archery equipment for three compound archers Trisha Deb, Rajat Chauhan and Jyothi Surekha Vennam and one recurve archer Promila Daimary.

In wrestling, MOC gave its nod of Rs 6.62 lakh for Sushil Kumar for training in Georgia. It will also include two sparring partners and one physiotherapist. Besides, Rs 3.22 lakh has been cleared for Bajrang Punia and Sumit for a 14 -day training camp and participation in a wrestling tournament in Turkey.