MUMBAI: Sports India (formerly Sports Authority of India) is set to reward all the members of the Indian women’s hockey team squad that won the Silver medal at the Asian Games 2018 with a place in its Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Press Trust of India reports.
The apex body’s review committee is in the process of identifying core group for the government-funded programme, which should be completed by next month.
“The women’s team is already getting funds from the ACTC (Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions). It’s just about Rs 50,000 monthly allowance that comes under TOPS. They will be included soon,” SI sources told PTI.
“Hockey India has sent us the proposal to include the women’s team in TOPS. At the moment we are reviewing the proposal and it is likely that they will be included in the next review of the TOPS list,” a Sports India official said.
“We have asked the national federations to come up with their suggestions. The TOPS team is analysing all the athletes’ data and statistics. By October 30 we should be in a position to complete the task,” he added.
Hockey India welcomed the move, claiming that it is a much-needed victory after a long struggle in which the women’s team was being ignored for such privileges while all the 18 members of the men’s hockey team squad have featured in TOPS.
“It is a sensible decision. We have been asking for the women’s team’s inclusion in the TOPS from the very beginning but till date they were ignored. But it seems finally the girls have earned their due with their brilliant performances on the turf,” the HI official said.
