MOC: Indian Athletes to Train In Europe, USA For World Championships Boost
Indian track-and-field athletes heading to the World Championships, including the defending javelin throw gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, will primarily train in Europe and the USA ahead of the September event. This comes after the sports ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) approved extended exposure trips to boost their chances of winning medals.
During the 157th MOC meeting, athletics benefitted the most, with training and competition proposals totaling Rs 86 lakh being approved. A significant portion of this budget was allocated to those who have qualified for the Tokyo event scheduled from September 13 to 21.
Neeraj Chopra, India's strongest medal hope and the only athlete with two world championship medals, will train in Prague and Nymburk in the Czech Republic for 57 days. Accompanied by his physio Ishan Marwah, Chopra will depart tonight and stay in the European nation until September 5 at a total cost of Rs 19 lakh.
Before his gold in 2023, the 27-year-old had secured a silver in the 2022 edition, making him the first Indian after Anju Bobby George (long jump bronze in 2003) to earn a podium finish in the marquee competition.
Steeplechasers Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary, along with long-distance runner Gulveer Singh, will train at Colorado Springs, Los Angeles from July 15 to September 3. The government has sanctioned Rs 41.29 lakh for their training expenses. All three athletes, who hold national records, performed admirably at the Asian Championships in May. Sable clinched gold, while Chaudhary won silver medals in the women's steeplechase and 5000m races. Gulveer secured gold in the men's 10,000m and 5,000m events, setting a championship record in the latter.
Other approved proposals include Rs 10.32 lakh for middle-distance runner Ajay Kumar Saroj to train with elite athletes at the same venue. Saroj, who won a silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, struggled with an ankle injury last year.
Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar will compete in Europe and Central Asia (Portugal, Spain, and Kazakhstan) from July 19 to August 14, with the government approving Rs 5.58 lakh for his expenses. Sreeshankar was hindered by a knee injury last year, which prevented his participation in the Paris Olympics despite qualifying.
Women's long jumpers Ancy Sojan and Shaili Singh, who won bronze medals at the Asian Championships, will also compete in Europe at events in London, Berlin, and Lausanne, costing Rs 9.21 lakh.
Para-shuttlers will compete in Cardiff:
From July 22 to 26, 11 para-shuttlers will participate in the British and Irish Para-Badminton Championship in Cardiff, crucial for accumulating ranking points required to qualify for the World Para-Badminton Championships next year. Proven performers like Nitish Kumar, Manoj Sarkar, and Krishna Nagar will be part of the 11-member squad, accompanied by six support staff. The MOC has approved a budget of Rs 44.26 lakh for this group.
The online meeting held on Thursday was attended by Sports Secretary and Director General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Hari Ranjan Rao, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) CEO N S Johal, Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) head Col. Rakesh Yadav, and other senior members, including national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand, Athletics Federation of India spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla, and Indian Olympic Association vice president Gagan Narang.
With PTI Inputs
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First Published:
July 11, 2025, 17:03 IST
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