Sports Ministry to fund customised training of 50 sportspersons

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry has directed SAI to identify 50 athletes in various disciplines for customised training under the `National Sports Development Fund 50` scheme to improve the country`s Olympic performance.

"The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) has decided to support up to 50 sportspersons for customised training under `NSDF 50` scheme," the Ministry said in a statement. "The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has been asked to recommend names of sportspersons in consultation with the concerned National Sports Federations (NSFs) by the end of August, 2013," it added. The Ministry said it was important that young sportspersons, who are medal hopes for the 2020 Olympics, be "encouraged and supported on a continuing basis". "...It would be necessary to evolve a proper and credible selection process to identify such sportspersons, may be in the age of 16-20 years, in various sports disciplines included in the Olympics; upto a maximum of 50 such sportspersons can be supported for customised training under NSDF," the Ministry said. "...The continuance of assistance should be subject to review of performance of the selected candidates twice in a year." Besides, Institutes with world-class facilities and coaches of international repute would also to be identified for sending the selected candidates for training. "EC felt that assurance of continued NSDF assistance to our top medal prospects will enable them to concentrate on their preparation without having to worry about funding. Long-term customised training programmes will be drawn up for selected sportspersons. In addition, normal NSDF funding for core probables in general will continue," the Ministry said. "NSDF decided that if an individual sportsperson wins an Olympic medal without funding from NSDF, reimbursement of expenditure incurred by him/her on training, competitions etc. will be considered as per norms," it added. PTI