टारगेट ओलिंपिक पोडियम योजना : इस योजना से सम्बंधित राज्य सभा में उठाये गए सवाल

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

(DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14-09-2020

Target Olympic Podium Scheme

158. Shri Rajeev Satav

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

(a) the reasons for failure to secure enough medals by India in 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games even after implementing Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) which aims to improve India’s performance at Olympics and Paralympics;

(b) whether Government has taken steps to train athletes for the upcoming Olympics of 2024 (Paris) and 2028 (Los Angeles) and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether Government will carry out review of the performance of the selected junior athletes under TOP scheme and if so, the details and outcome thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

[SHRI KIREN RIJIJU]

(a) & (b) Preparation for Olympic Games is an ongoing process. Participation in Olympics is through qualification and India sent its largest contingent ever for participation in Olympics in 2016. India returned with 2 medals; P.V. Sindhu’s Silver (Badminton) and Sakshi Malik’s Bronze (Wrestling). India won 4 medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze) in Paralympics 2016 which is its best ever performance in Paralympics. In order to improve India’s performance at Olympics and Paralympics, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports started the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in September 2014. This was revamped in April 2018 to have a technical support team for managing the TOPS athletes and providing holistic support. The scheme is fully functional and has been extending all requisite support to probable athletes identified for the Tokyo-2021, Paris-2024 and Los Angles2028 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games including foreign training, international competition, equipment and coaching camp besides monthly stipend of Rs.50,000/- for each athlete. At present, 94 athletes are included in the TOPS. 

High priority category of sports discipline has been identified to put focus on and incentivize those sports disciplines played in the Olympics in which India has won medals in the last conducted Asian Games as well as Commonwealth Games or in which India has good chance of winning medals in the upcoming Olympics of 2024 (Paris) and 2028 (Los Angeles). Presently, nine sports disciplines viz., (i) Athletics, (ii) Badminton (iii) Hockey (iv) Shooting (v) Tennis (vi) Weightlifting (vii) Wrestling, (viii) Archery and (ix) Boxing have been categorised as ‘High Priority’.

(c) Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which covers the junior and sub-junior athletes also, is a dynamic exercise, wherein review of performance is done periodically fixing targets and intermediate milestones for individual athletes; and the sportspersons who fail to achieve the targets despite providing additional support and adequate time are dropped from the scheme. Further, on the basis on key performance indicators brought out by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in collaboration with the National Sports Federations (NSFs), Coaches and other stakeholders, a periodic performance review is conducted for all athletes under the Scheme.

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