NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry on Friday approved of a Rs 3 million grant, providing assistance to Indian athletes in order to train for the Asian Games, Press Trust of India reports.
Rs 2.5 million of the subsidy is for athletes across seven different sports such as shooting, gymnastics, boxing, wushu, high jump, swimming and para athletes. While star wrestler Sushil Kumar will be provided with Rs 495,000 for a two-week training stint in Georgia.
The Mission Olympic Cell had a meeting over which it took training, competition, support staff and equipment expenses into account before making these decisions.
The proposals of six para-athletes, who are training in India and abroad ahead of the Asian Para Games that will take place between October 6 and 13 in Jakarta, were also cleared at the meeting.
Boxer Vikas Krishan, who won Gold medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, have been sanctioned Rs 42,000 for purchase of equipment, including shoes, lactometer and pulse oximeter.
Also substantial financial assistance to four Wushu athletes, covered under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), were sanctioned for their Asian Games training at the meeting.
“Rs 495,000 was sanctioned to Sushil Kumar for a two-week training programme in Georgia ahead of the Asian Games along with one support staff and two sparring partners.” Sports India (erstwhile SAI) said in a release.
“Rs 502,000 has been sanctioned for gymnast Rakesh Patra 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,” the release added.
