The ‘TOPS’-notch
By Disha Mashelkar
Sports’ has always mesmerized the thrill and adventure of
living life! A sportsperson’s life is full of mighty passion and the
enthralling moments of victory and loss faced in the game. A sports ’star who
has gone through the jinx of financial burden to play the sport knows, how
tough it is for him/her to rile up like a lotus!
The images used are just for representation
Recently, The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) of the
Sports Ministry announced the inclusion of 39 athletes into it. Under this
scheme the athletes will receive financial assistance for their preparations
for the 2016 Rio Olympics. According to the Press Information Bureau –‘Earlier, the
Ministry had named 45 athletes in the Scheme. The Ministry has already given
funds of about 1.35 Crore to 10 athletes so far under the Scheme. It has also
organised mental training camp of archers under the TOP Scheme’.
The images used are just for representation
At one hand Target Olympic Podium Scheme
(TOPS) is helping India’s fine archers like Deepika Kumari, Tarundeep Rai, Jayanta Talukdar, Mangal Singh Champia,
and L. Bombayala Devi. As well as
India’s ace shuttler’s like Saina Nehwal,
P V Sindhu, P Kashyap, K Srikanth, Guru Saidutt and H S Prannoy are also
covered under the TOPS. On the other hand, it has also included the names of six
women 400m runners, Priyanka Panwar, Ashwini Akkunji, Jauna Murmu, Sini Jose,
Mandeep Kaur and Tiana Mary Thomas, were caught for doping in 2011 and
subsequently suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) for two
years. Out of which, three of them were part of the gold medal winning 4x400m
relay teams in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
The images used are just for representation
Some Indian sports personalities have faced tough times and
know how difficult it is for them to carry on with their sports career. It’s
difficult that other Indian sports unlike ‘Cricket’ would always receive
abundance of love and financial
stability in the form of ample cricket clubs and from the BCCI (Board of
Cricket Control of India) who support the sport fully including the cricketers
time and again! No wonder the electrifying short versions like IPL and T-20
cricket has even added the extravagant glamour to the sport.
The images used are just for representation
By far India’s performance in the Olympics hasn’t been
disappointing. The budding talent is now being geared up with the help of
efficient coaches and support staff which won India in 2012 London Olympics
Gold in Badminton and Bronze medal in Boxing. Hopefully
in near future The Sports Authority of India will come up with many such
finance supportive schemes which will help many athletes to rise up and shine.
Only time will tell if the ‘TOPS’ will help the Indian sports personalities in
notching the Olympics’ podium of success.
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