Thakur accuses Sports Ministry of delaying TOPS

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, Mar 26

Anurag Thakur has accused Sports Ministry of delaying the central government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) by over five months. The scheme had been mooted to help top athletes prepare for the Rio Olympics Games, scheduled to be held in 2015.

“My job as TOPS chairman was to select the best athletes for the scheme. We did that last November within 15 to 20 days, and submitted the list to the Ministry. Now, it's up to the Ministry to decide how and when to roll out the scheme,” Thakur told The Tribune.

As many as 75 athletes across various disciplines have been identified for the scheme, but the project is yet to see the light of the day. It was scheduled to begin in November, but the Ministry is still busy giving it some finishing touches.

Thakur felt the delay in rolling out the scheme had made the athletes a little wary about signing up, especially with the Olympic qualifiers around the corner. “From our side, no one could say we have not delivered on the project. The Sports Secretary has to convene a meeting with the TOPS members to take it forward. Whenever he is ready to do that, we will be available. We are waiting for that meeting for the last four months,” he said.

The selected athletes too have some reservations regarding the scheme. One of their major concerns is the clause that says the government will back the athletes only if they end their ties with private organisations like OGQ and Anglian Medal Hunt which provide them with technical and monetary support.

The selected sportspersons, as per the clause, can continue their personal commercial endorsements they entered before signing up with the TOPS. They will, however, need a prior written approval of the Ministry where the sponsor is a competitor of any of the TOPS’ partners.

“There’s an option. If they want to go with the private organisations, they can. Nobody is forcing them. But they have to choose between the two. If the TOPS is giving them sufficient funds, I don't see any reason why they want to opt out of it. It’s up to the athletes to take a final call,” said Thakur.