Sports ministry adds 39 new athletes to TOP scheme

The Sports ministry has added 39 more athletes, including ace archers Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai, to the Target Olympic Podium scheme (TOP).

The athletes will receive financial assistance for their preparations for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Earlier, the government had announced a list of 45 athletes under the scheme.

Other prominent athletes, who are now covered under the scheme are Tintu Luka, Ashwini Akkunji, Sini Jose, Mandeep Kaur, archer Dola Banerjee and Bombayla Devi.

Boxers Sarjubala and Sumit Sangawan have also been added. All the new recommendations were made by the TOP Identification Committee, chaired by BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur.