(a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to improve the performance of players in the country during the last five years; and
(b) the steps taken by the Government to improve the performance of the country at international level as compared to other countries?
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
[SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]
(a)& (b): Sportspersons preparing for participation in international sports events are continuously being assisted for their training and competitive exposures within the country and abroad through the Annual Calendar of Training & Competitions (ACTC), funded under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs). Further, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) is being implemented since 2014 for meeting the requirements of customized training of the athletes with medal prospects in mega sports events such as the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games,with a view to improve the performance of sportspersons / teams to excel in their performances in the international sporting events. Besides the continuous regular support being provided to the athletes, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Ministry, have taken a number of decisions and initiativesduring the last 5 years, gist of which isgiven below:
(i) Constitution of a High Level Committee, comprising of various stakeholders under the Chairmanship of Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports to oversee/support/coordinate and strategize the preparation for the 2020 & 2024 Olympics.
(ii) Establishment of NCOEs by SAI with a view to impart specialized training to promising athletes by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and playing facilities, sports science backup, individualized diet prescribed by trained nutritionists and overall supervision under the best coaches, qualified support staff and High Performance Directors. At present, 23 SAI Centres across the country, have been designated as NCOEs to impart specialized training to promising athletes in 24 sports disciplines.
(iii) Grant of Out of Pocket Allowance (OPA) of Rs. 50,000/- per month to the elite athletes included in the TOPS since September 2017, which is in addition to the support already provided for customised training to the eliteathletes.
(iv) Inclusion of a developmental group in TOPS for young athletes identified for India’s Olympic preparations for 2024 and beyond. Under the TOPS Development Group, each athlete receives OPA of Rs. 25,000/- per month and customized training support at a National Centre of Excellence (NCOE). To ensure a focused approach in the Olympic preparation, 14 sport disciplines viz. Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Fencing, Hockey, Judo, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Wrestling, Weightlifting and Rowing have been identified as priority disciplines for excellence at Olympics 2024 and 2028, and at the other upcoming International Competitions.
(v) Establishment of aQuick Response Injury and Management Rehabilitation Cell under the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), comprising of a core group of physicians, physiotherapists, and musculoskeletal experts to monitor the injury prevention/rehabilitation protocols of Olympic-bound athletes.
(vi) Sensitising and educating athletes on life skills, covering topics such as dealing with pressures, communication, media interaction and sports science.
(vii) Creation of a High Performance network of coaches, academies and sports science specialists in India, and globally to provide better technical support to the athletes in preparation for the Olympic Games.
(viii) Use of Software and Technology - To record training, performance, injury and other parameters for the purpose of athlete monitoring, research and analysis and scientific interventions.
(ix) Under the vertical “Utilization and Creation of Sports Infrastructure” of the Khelo India Scheme, 282 sports infrastructure projects worth Rs. 2328.39 crorehave been sanctioned during the last five years.
(x) Identification and nurturing of sporting talent under the vertical ‘Talent Search and Development’ of the ‘Khelo India Scheme’ to attain highest levels of achievement at international levels. As of now, 2623 Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) have been selected in 21 sports disciplines including Para Sports. For imparting high quality training to these selected athletes, 247 Academies have been accredited across the country (both SAI & Non-SAI) under the “Support to National/Regional/State Sports Academies” vertical of the Scheme. A financial assistance @ Rs. 6,28,400 (including Rs. 1,20,000 as OPA) per annum per athlete is being provided to these academies.
(xi) Setting up of State-Level Khelo India Centre (SLKIC) under the Khelo India Scheme. One existing sports facility is being identified for upgrading to international standards, and to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the training of the athletes. For such centres, financial support in terms of manpower, sports equipment, sports science support, etc. is provided after conducting a viability gap analysis. At present, under this vertical, 28 centers in 27 States/UTs administration have been approved as Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE).
(xii) Enhancement in the amount of award money for the Major Dhyan Chand KhelRatna Award from Rs. 7.5 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh, for the Arjuna Award and theDronacharya (Lifetime) Award from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh, for the Dronacharya (Regular) Award and the Dhyanchand Award from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh.
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