Anju new TOPS chairman

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 24

The Government’s ambitious Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which has been marred by allegations of administrative red-tapism, multi-layered clearances and never-ending paperwork, will have a new chairman in former long jump champion Anju Bobby George.

The Sports Ministry has cleared her appointment as the TOPS chairman, a post which fell vacant after the resignation of the BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur.

Anju, the only Indian to have won a medal at a World Championships, in 2003, will be assuming charge in the first week of December.

She is presently a member of the TOPS’ identification committee, which also includes national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand and former cricketer Rahul Dravid among others.

The first issue on her agenda would be to look into the complaints of athletes facing difficulty in getting requisite support and funding from the government as part of their preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“It’s a big responsibility. I have to keep in mind the struggle of our medal hopefuls as they prepare for the Rio Games. I hope I can support them in their most crucial time of training. As an athlete, I understand their problems, training and equipment needs and, most importantly, the value of time,” Anju told The Tribune.

The TOPS was launched with a view to provide financial assistance to the medal prospects for Rio as well as identify and groom talent for 2020 Tokyo Games. Many athletes have outlined lengthy paper work as one of their major concerns.

Anju said she is “largely aware” about the problems of TOPS athletes, but added sometimes the sportspersons don’t make the “genuine” demands.

“Some athletes when they returned after a training stint abroad did not submit or clear the bills. There had been no report from coaches on what kind of training they underwent. If those athletes would again ask for funding, then it would be difficult for the government to release further funds. I know that some of the athletes are not ready to produce bills,” she said.