MOC Approves Financial Support for Indian Athletes Ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has extended financial support to Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen and other elite athletes in their preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lakshya Sen, who will represent India in the men's singles event in Paris, will undergo a 12-day training stint in Marseille, France, from July 8 to 21. The training session will be held at The Halle des Sports Parsemain, where Sen will work with his coach and support staff.

MOC has also approved double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu's proposal to train in Saarbrucken, Germany, for over a month. Sindhu will train at the Hermann-Neuberger Sportschule with her coach and support staff before heading to Paris.

Under the Ministry's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), MOC has sanctioned funding for the athletes' airfare, boarding/lodging costs, local transportation charges, Visa Fees, and shuttlecock expenses.

In addition to Sen and Sindhu, MOC has approved support for other athletes, including table tennis player Sreeja Akula, archer Tisha Punia, golfer Aditi Ashok, and swimmer Aryan Nehra. TOPS will fund their airfare, accommodation, local transportation, equipment (for Akula and Nehra), and caddy fee (for Ashok).

MOC has also expanded its TOPS Core group by including table tennis player Harmeet Desai and the Women's 4x400 Relay Team. Wrestlers Nisha (68kg) and Reetika (76kg) have been promoted to the Core group.

Furthermore, promising golfer Kartik Singh has been inducted into TOPS Development, with a focus on the 2028 and 2032 Olympics in Los Angeles and Brisbane, respectively.

These initiatives demonstrate the government's commitment to supporting elite athletes in their pursuit of Olympic glory. The financial assistance and training opportunities provided by MOC will enable these athletes to optimize their preparations and strive for success at the highest level.

Tags: #LakshyaSen, #PVSindhu, #MissionOlympicCell, #TOPS, #Paris2024