NEW DELHI: In its attempt to improve the standard of sports in the country, the Government gave assistance of Rs 6.1 crore for the training of 31 athletes and to eight organisations in the first quarter of the current year 2015-16 from the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).

The funds were given for conduct of tournaments, participation in tournaments abroad, infrastructure development and prize money etc.

Out of the said 31 athletes, 24 have been given assistance under the Target Olympic Podium scheme.

The NSDF had been established by the Youth Affairs & Sports Ministry with the objective of promotion of sports in general and specific sports disciplines and individual sports persons in particular for achieving excellence at the National and International level and to construct and maintain infrastructure as may be required for promotion of excellence in sports.

The objectives of the fund also include taking up research projects and development studies and promotion of international cooperation in sports. The Ministry has initiated the ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme’ (TOP Scheme) under the NSDF. The scheme envisages identification of athletes who are potential medal winners in Olympics and providing support to them for preparation for Olympics.

Athletes who benefitted during the period are Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Heena Sidhu, Abhinav Bindra, Ankur Mittal, Anisa Sayyed, Kynan Chenai and Mohd. Asab (all shooters), Mandeep Jangra (boxer) Dipika Pallikal, Harinder Pal Singh and Kush Kumar (all squash players), Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das, Jayanta Talukdar, Mangal Champia, Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Devi, Rimil Buriuly, Laxmi Rani Majhi, Sanjay Boro, Atul Verma, Ranjit Naik, Dola Banerjee, Madhu Vedwan, Viswash, Snehal and Binod Swansi (all archers-mental training programme), Aishwarya and Varsha Gautham (sailors), Vikas Gowda (athletics) and Nischay Luthra (ice skating).