39 more Indian athletes included in Target Olympic Podium scheme

The Target Olympic Scheme will provide assistance to athletes for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS): The sports ministry on Thursday selected another 39 Indian athletes who will get assistance under the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.

The ministry had earlier named 45 athletes who will get assistance under the flagship scheme of the sports ministry which has already given about Rs. 1.35 crores to ten athletes so far under the scheme. It has also organised mental training camp for archers under the TOP scheme.

The scheme envisages identification of athletes who are potential medal winners in Olympics and providing support to them for preparation for the games.

Among the senior 4x400m women relay team, Priyanka Pawar, Tintu Luka, Debashree Majumdar, M.R. Poovamma, Anilda Thomas, Ashwini Akkunji, Jauna Murmu, Sini Jose, Mandeep Kaur were selected on Thursday. For the 2020 Olympic development group, 4x400m women's relay team members include Chavi Sharawat, Anju Thomas, Nirmala, M. Arpitha.

Race-walkers who have been selected include K. Ganapathy, Manish Rawat, Sandeep Kumar and Devender Singh, while in discus throw Navjeet Kaur Dhillon was recommended for the 2020 Games.

For shot put, Inderjeet Singh was named. In archery senior men category, Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das, Jayanta Talukdar, Mangal Champia, Viswash, Ranjit Naik were picked, while Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Devi, Rimil Buruily, Laxmi Rani Majhi, Dola Banerjee and Snehal were automatic selections in the women's archery team. For the 2020 Games, the TOP scheme committee, chaired by BJP MP Anurag Thakur, selected Sanjay Boro, Atul Verma, Binod Swansi and Madhu Vedwan.

In boxing, Sumit Sangwan (men's 81 kg) and Sarjubala Devi (women's 48kg) will get assistance for the 2020 Olympic Games, while rifle shooter Chain Singh, swimmer Maana Patel (100m) and 200m backstroke were selected for the 2020 Games development group.