Odisha’s para shuttler Pramod Bhagat earned a spot in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) after the government restructured the program to strengthen India’s Olympic medal chances.
The Mission Olympic Cell, led by NS Johl, reviewed athlete performances and added eight new names while removing several underperformers.
Bhagat, a former Paralympic gold medalist, recently captured his sixth World Championship title. His inclusion highlights his resurgence after returning to competitive para badminton last year. The 37-year-old champion continues to inspire with his determination and consistency.
TOPS now supports 56 athletes across disciplines. The scheme provides monthly allowances of Rs 50,000 along with international training and competition support. Athletes also receive a daily allowance of $25 during overseas events. The development program, which includes 130 shooters and 22 boxers, offers ₹25,000 monthly allowances plus similar international exposure benefits.
Other athletes joining Bhagat in the latest list include pistol shooter Samrat Rana, Suruchi Singh, long-distance runner Gulveer Singh, rifle shooter Neeraj Kumar, mixed doubles pair Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila, and boxer Jasmyn Lamboria. Meanwhile, HS Prannoy, Divyansh Panwar, and Deepak Punia were excluded after performance reviews.
