The Sports Ministry has reduced the core group of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) from 179 athletes to 94 following a recent performance review.
This move has led to the exclusion of several prominent Indian sportspersons across various disciplines.
Unrepresented Sports: Tennis, swimming, and golf have no representation in the updated list, while the presence of athletes in boxing and athletics has seen a sharp decline.
Current Roster: Out of the 94 selected athletes, 42 are able-bodied, a reduction of 78 from the previous list. The remaining 52 are para-athletes, including top performers from the Paris Paralympics, reflecting their growing international stature.
Support Provided by TOPS: Launched in 2014, TOPS aims to provide targeted support to Olympic hopefuls through foreign training, international competitions, equipment, coaching, and a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000. Recently, an additional USD 25 allowance has been added for athletes travelling abroad for training or competitions.
Dynamic List: The updated roster is dynamic, meaning names will continue to be added or removed based on athletes’ performance during the qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Expert Opinions: TOPS CEO N S Johal described the new list as a “truthful, transparent, and realistic reflection of potential based on demonstrated performances.” The list aligns with the push for a more performance-oriented policy by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Sports Secretary Sujata Chaturvedi.
Rules of Exclusion: Athletes included in the fresh group must have either medaled in Paris, advanced deep in the Games draw, or been in the top 16 of the world rankings.
Notable Inclusions: Athletics has seen a reduction from 30 names to just three, with none being women. Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, steeplechaser Avinash Sable, and long jumper M. Sreeshankar are the only track-and-field athletes in the group.
Notable Exclusions: Prominent athletes dropped include shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, javelin thrower Annu Rani, sprinter Muhammed Anas Yahiya, and several top boxers and badminton players.
The updated list reflects a shift towards a more performance-oriented approach, with continuous evaluation based on the athletes’ performance in upcoming events. The ministry aims to ensure that only the most promising athletes receive support under the TOPS program.
