Sports Ministry sanctions Rs 7.95 crore for Oly preparation

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry has sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 7.95 crore from National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for imparting customised training to elite athletes, who are medal prospects in the London Olympics and other major international sports events.

The financial assistance that will also include air fare has been granted to 45 sportspersons and 12 coaches and support staffs under Operation London Excellence 2012. Out of this, a sum of Rs 4.21 crore has already been released to the sportspersons. The aid sanctioned is towards extensive training abroad, engagement of personal coaches both foreign and Indian, competitions exposures abroad, scientific back-up in terms of sports psychologists, physiotherapists, masseurs etc. So far, 18 sportspersons have been given financial assistance from NSDF under OPEX 2012 that include four shooters, eight athletes and six tennis players for training abroad. In addition, two teams of four male and five female gymnasts were sponsored by NSDF for training while the participation of Indian boxing team in three competitions was also financed from NSDF. The NSDF assistance in all these cases has been processed after the approval of the Steering Committee for OPEX 2012. Most of these sportspersons are undergoing training and money will be released in installments after getting statements of accounts, mostly on quarterly basis, and periodical performance report from the institutes/coaches. PTI