The Mission Olympic Cell on Friday sanctioned ₹30 lakh for athletes across eight sports as part of the clear funding related to training, competition, support staff and equipment expenses.
The proposals of six Indian para-athletes, who are training in India and overseas ahead of the Asian Para Games to be held from October 6 to 13 in Jakarta, were cleared at the meeting. Also substantial financial assistance to four wushu athletes covered under TOPS was sanctioned for their Asian Games training.
In addition to para-athletics and wushu, financial assistance to athletes in track and field, shooting, wrestling, boxing, gymnastics and tennis were also sanctioned at the meeting.
In para athletics, ₹1.63 lakh has been sanctioned for Avani Lekhara, 10m air rifle para-shooter for use of a coach, physiotherapist and personal escort during her three-month training for the Asian Para-Games from July 1 to October 5. ₹5.95 lakh has been sanctioned for Rampal Chahar, para high jumper for his overseas training in Ukraine from July 16 to October 5. Approval was granted to four para athletes Rinku Hooda, Amit Kumar Saroha, Dharambir and Ankur Dhama to continue their coaching camps at various SAI centres. In wushu, ₹7.73 lakh has been sanctioned for four athletes Narender Grewal, Santosh Kumar, Surya Bhanu Pratap and Sanathoi Devi for their month-long training in Shandong, China ahead of the Asian Games along with their personal coaches Rajvir Singh and Rajesh Tailor. ₹1.24 lakh has been sanctioned for shooters Tejaswini Sawant for Sports Science evaluation across four months apart from training expenses for Akhil Sheoran for his pre-Asian Games training at Mumbai and Pune.
Gymnast Rakesh Patra has been given ₹5.02 lakh for his 12-day training camp in Mersin, Turkey ahead of the Asian Games. Apart from coaching fees, the expenses will also include use of training venue, medical expenses and accommodation.
Wrestling medal hope Sushil Kumar will train in Georgia along with two sparring partners with the aid of ₹4.95 lakhs while Srihari Nataraj will receive financial help to enable coach Jayarajan AC travel with him to Jakarta.
