The government has rolled out its ambitious TOP (Target Olympic Podium) Scheme, under which 2016 Olympics medal prospects will be funded for their specialised world class training and top-level competition, and offered ace discus thrower Seema Punia a budget of Rs 75 lakhs till the Rio Games next year.
Young table tennis players Syndrela Das and Payas Jain have been inducted into the Sports Ministry's TOPS Development group, while Manika Batra's international event funding request has also been approved, aiming to strengthen India's table tennis presence on the global stage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's strong bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games and detailed plans for a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to ensure significant participation and success in the event. He highlighted the success of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and India's growing presence in global sports.
The Indian government is set to revamp its Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), focusing on quarterly athlete evaluations and prioritising high medal-yielding sports like aquatics and cycling to improve performance at the Olympic Games.
The Sports Ministry has invested over Rs 702 crore in the last three years to prepare Indian athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, featuring 310 debutants.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has appointed Prashant Singh, a former Khelo India Scheme official with over a decade of experience, as the Regional Director for its Gandhinagar centre. He will also oversee operations across Gujarat and Rajasthan, with a focus on developing Para Sports.
The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has sanctioned Rs 35.46 lakh for overseas training stints for Paralympic medallists Ajeet Singh (javelin) and Pranav Soorma (club throw) to prepare them for the upcoming Asian Para-Games in Japan. Both athletes, part of the TOPS core group, will train in Germany and Czechia respectively, with Pranav also participating in multiple championships.
Four Indian boxers have been promoted to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Core group following their impressive performances at the 2026 Asian Boxing Elite Championships, while three others have been inducted into the Development group.
Seventeen shooters, prominent among who is Beijing Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, are among 45 athletes selected by the government for financial assistance under the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme.
The Indian Golf Union (IGU) has approved significant amendments to its Memorandum of Association, including the addition of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit, creation of a Dispute Resolution Committee, and modifications to its election process, all aimed at aligning with the National Sports Governance Act.
Twenty-two rowers have been inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Group to prepare for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The selection, made by the Mission Olympic Cell, includes prominent names like Balraj Panwar and Arvind Singh.
India's para shot putter Soman Rana won the gold gold medal in the men's F57 event para shot put event at the Commonwealth Games.
Indian track and field athletes, including Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary, are using a specialised 'smart track' at SAI NCOE Bengaluru to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming Asian Games.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has assured continued government support to trap shooter Neeru Dhanda and pistol ace Esha Singh, who recently achieved historic gold medals at ISSF World Cups. Mandaviya highlighted shooting as a priority sport for India, with significant investment in athlete development programs like TOPS and Khelo India, aiming for future Olympic and Commonwealth Games success.
India's top 400m runners, including Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi and Jay Kumar, view the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as a more challenging competition than the Asian Games. They believe the higher standard of competition, especially from Australia and England, will serve as an ideal proving ground to improve their performance and achieve personal bests ahead of the continental showpiece.
India's top 400m runners, including Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi and Jay Kumar, view the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as a more challenging competition than the Asian Games. They believe the higher standard of competition, especially from Australia and England, will serve as an ideal proving ground to improve their performance and achieve personal bests ahead of the continental showpiece.
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Core group has been updated with the inclusion of rising stars like Samrat Rana and Gulveer Singh, while some established athletes have been dropped due to performance issues.
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Core group has been updated, with rising stars like Samrat Rana and Gulveer Singh joining, while underperforming athletes such as H.S. Prannoy and Deepak Punia have been dropped.
A High Performance national coach for rifle shooters, Manoj Kumar, is under inquiry by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for allegedly conducting private coaching at a government facility and discriminating against non-attendees. Complaints from shooters and guardians detail pressure to name him as their official coach and unequal distribution of ammunition. The National Rifles Association of India (NRAI) secretary general has refuted the charges.
Neeraj Chopra will head to the Olympic Training Centre in Switzerland from May 25, while shooter Manu Bhaker has jetted off to Italy after the Sports Ministry approved their foreign exposure proposals in view of this year's Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that India is preparing with full strength to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
Yuki Bhambri and Sumit Nagal receive financial assistance to prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and Davis Cup, while Dhakshineswar Suresh joins the Target Asian Games Group.
Indian archers Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Dhiraj Bommadevara will use upcoming Archery World Cup stages to experiment with new equipment ahead of the Asian Games in Japan.
Skeet shooters Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka, who narrowly missed out on a mixed team bronze at the Paris Olympic Games, return to action at the ISSF World Cup final and are eying a podium finish at the home event, starting in New Delhi on Sunday.
Paralympic gold medallist Sumit Antil, supported by Neeraj Chopra, has filed a complaint with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) accusing coach Naval Singh of mental harassment and verbal abuse.
Indian archers Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Dhiraj Bommadevara plan to use the upcoming Archery World Cup stages as testing grounds for equipment changes ahead of the Asian Games later this year. Both archers are part of the 12-member Indian squad for the Asian Games, scheduled to begin in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19.
TJ, Animesh Kujur enter TOPS developmental group; Pranati named for TAGG
An analysis of the disparities in India's sporting culture, highlighting the challenges faced by non-cricket athletes and the systemic changes needed for India to become a true sporting superpower.
Former world champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's proposal to train in Paris ahead of the Olympic Games was on Monday cleared by the government.
Shooter Bhowneesh Mendiratta's proposal for financial assistance towards a week-long training camp with foreign coach Daniele Di Spigno has also been approved.
Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya said India is aiming to host the 2036 Olympics and finish in the top 10 in the medals tally.
'We will leave no stone unturned'
Seasoned marksman Gagan Narang applauds the systematic selection process, government investment, and improved infrastructure for India's impressive haul of 15 shooting quota places for the Paris Olympics
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award to badminton stars Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
'Despite pandemic Govt is doing everything possible to support our athletes to make India proud'
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
The Mission Olympic Cell is also considering higher incentives for retired Olympians and world-class players who want to take up coaching, in an effort to retain top talent within India.
Currently, the hockey players draw salaries from the departments and organisations that they are employed with even though a proposal to have a graded contract system by Hockey India has been in the deliberation stage for past few years.
Tokyo Olympics bronze-winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain's allegations of "disrespectful and gender-discriminatory behaviour" against national federation's executive director Col Arun Malik are being investigated.
The tournament, being hosted under the aegis of World Boxing, featured four boxers in the women's 75kg category -- Borgohain, Cindy Ngamba of the Refugee Boxing Team, Qian and England's Chantal Reid -- and held in a round robin format.
