Latest news with #TargetOlympicPodiumScheme
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Elite Women's Boxing Tournament: Two-Time World Champion Nikhat Zareen starts in style
ANI 28 Jun 2025, 23:33 GMT+10 Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 28 (ANI): Two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen opened her campaign with a clinical 4:1 win over Uttar Pradesh's Rashi Sharma in the 48-51kg category while Haryana's Anjali got the better of World Championships bronze medallist Manisha Moun in the 57-60 kg category in the Elite Women's Boxing Tournament at Hyderabad's Saroornagar Indoor Stadium on Saturday. Organised by the Telangana Boxing Federation under the aegis of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and the Sports Authority of Telangana, the tournament brings together top-tier names and emerging prospects from across the country, as per a press release from the Boxing Federation of India. The event, to be held from June 27 to July 1, features 15 participating units--12 from the recent Elite Nationals, host Telangana, the SAI NCOE Combined team, and the TOPS Talent & Development squad. Other notable Day 1 results included a win for 2023 world champion Nitu (Haryana) in 45-48kg over Rajani Singh (UP) 5:0, while Telangana's Yashi Sharma defeated K Monisha (Tamil Nadu) 5:0 in the 60-65kg category. Another standout from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) setup, Laxmi, posted a dominant 5:0 win in the 51-54kg bout against Ragini (UP). Former World Youth Champion Ankushita Boro is also in the fray. The gold and silver medalists in each of the 10 weight categories will be selected for the elite national camp to be held in Patiala. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
AFI sets new norms for private training centres
New Delhi: India's track and field athletes are preparing for the season this year at various private and government run training centres as per Athletics Federation of India (AFI) ambitious plan to give them the freedom to train at centres of their choice. AFI has also done away with long-duration training camps except for relay teams. Praveen Chithravel . (Getty Images) The idea is to create an open and competitive training environment and broaden the talent pool. Senior AFI officials feel the plan to decentralise training is showing results as is evident from performance at the Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea, where Indian athletes scooped up 24 medals finishing second in medal tally behind China. However, AFI is also facing some teething troubles in monitoring the athletes and has decided to put in place a mechanism to deal with that. In a meeting with various stakeholders, including government and private entities, AFI set several guidelines that these training centres will have to follow. The federation has already issued directions to athletes to get their training and competition programme cleared by them in case they want to head overseas. AFI said there is a growing trend of athletes choosing to train and compete abroad with funding and support from Target Olympic Podium Scheme and institutes like Reliance and JSW, who run their own centres. But when it comes to major international competitions their performances have dipped. The Paris Olympics were a big lesson for the AFI. Long jumper Jeswin Aldrin, Triple jumper Praveen Chithravel, Javelin throwers Kishore Jena and Annu Rani were among those who failed to deliver in Paris. They weren't even close to their best. Now, the federation doesn't want to make the same mistake with the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games scheduled next year. 'We want to ensure that athletes train with a target in mind, and not aimlessly go for overseas competitions. When you are competing abroad, you don't belong to JSW or Reliance, you belong to India,' said AFI spokesperson and former president Adille Sumariwalla. Chithravel, who equalled his national record of 17.37m this season, went for a few meets in Spain without AFI's permission. 'The point is that they just go and then perform badly. If you are a coach, all we are saying is tell us the annual programme. Which meets you will compete in India and which meet you will compete outside. Why do you want to go to a particular meet and train?' Sumariwalla said the Mission Olympic Cell does not give approval to athlete training abroad without AFI permission. 'Earlier there were cases where MOC had given permission even when AFI did not agree and all those athletes failed. Now, they take our approval,' he said. AFI also said that Indian coaches have a big role to play in pushing athletes to train outside because of their own interest. 'We have a full fledged calendar now in alignment with the world athletics calendar, so why do you want to compete outside? The standard of some of these tournaments are so low. In India you will get better competition,' said senior AFI official Lalit Bhanot to stakeholders. 'Neeraj Chopra trains outside because of a reason. Jyothi Yarraji can train and compete in meets outside because she doesn't have much competition at home but I can't understand why our jumpers and throwers are so eager to go out,' the seasoned administrator said. He said that participating in state meets and national championships is now mandatory and AFI has even set qualifying standards for its important domestic events. AFI has also started the process of registering coaches to track which athletes are being trained by whom. 'Some of these coaches are into manipulation, they encourage doping. They are also changing their wards from one training centre to another by taking money,' said Bhanot. AFI chief coach Radhakrishan Nair said coaches have to be very sure of periodisation. 'In the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, we had some wonderful performances. For example, Jeswin jumped 8.47m and Praveen did 17.37m. Going by their performance as a coach I would feel that at the Olympics, the jumpers would do better but we all know what happened in Paris,' said the chief coach. 'So we should have a combined plan. We can't just send our athletes to compete in events abroad without a plan. The stakeholders have to justify why they are participating. Recent studies show there is no one method of periodization. Next season we have CWG and Asian Games, and we need to sit together and chart out which events we need to give importance to and accordingly set training plans,' he said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Rajasthan to host Khelo India University Games in November 2025, says Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
Jaipur: Khelo India University Games were started by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020 to promote sports talent at the university level and to create a sports environment in the country. Due to the positive efforts of the Chief Minister of the state Bhajan Lal Sharma, Rajasthan has got the responsibility of hosting the fifth Khelo India University Games, 2025. Sports minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore informed this while addressing a press conference at Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Tuesday. You Can Also Check: Jaipur AQI | Weather in Jaipur | Bank Holidays in Jaipur | Public Holidays in Jaipur He said that in the 12-day sports event to be held in the month of November, about six thousand players from all over the country will participate in 25 sports events and showcase their sporting talent. Also, players from across the country will get an opportunity to experience the glorious culture of Rajasthan. Discussions will also be held with sports associations regarding the organization of the proposed games. Sports minister Rathore said that Khelo India University Games 2025 will be organised successfully under the main hosting of Rajasthan State Sports Council with the co-hosting of Poornima University and Rajasthan University. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brass Krishna Idols For Prosperity & Protection In Life Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo On this occasion, Dr Neeraj Kumar Pawan, secretary to government, youth affairs and sports department, Rajendra Singh, secretary, Rajasthan State Sports Council were present. Sports minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that sports competitions have never been organised on such a large scale in the state. Along with Khelo India University Games - 2025, a multi-sports event is going to be started on the initiative of the state government. Through this event, a strong and modern infrastructure will be created for sports in the state. Rathore said that on the lines of the Commonwealth Games, better facilities will be provided to the players for the organization of Khelo India University Games-2025. Number of sports offered: 25 Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Fencing, Football, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Rugby, Yogasana, Mallakhamb, Shooting, Cycling, Handball, Chess, Squash, Wushu. Proposed Playgrounds of estimated 6 institutions: - Poornima University, Rajasthan University, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jagatpura Shooting Range, Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium, Rajasthan Police Academy. Sports talents will be discovered through talent hunt Sports minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the state government is starting a talent hunt scheme to discover hidden sports talents. Like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme of the Central Government, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme is also being started for the promising players of the state. Through this, the selected players will be able to avail the benefits of high-level training and sports facilities.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Tejaswin Shankar, Animesh Kujur enter TOPS developmental group; Pranati Nayak named for TAGG
Asian Championships silver-winning decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, fast-rising sprinter Animesh Kujur and the women's 4x100m relay team were included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme's (TOPS) developmental group, while gymnast Pranati Nayak was added to the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) in the latest round of evaluation by the Sports Ministry. The 26-year-old Tejaswin, who is mostly based in the USA, became the first Indian to win two decathlon medals in the Asian Championships by upgrading his bronze from the previous edition to a silver this time in Gumi, South Korea last month. The 22-year-old Kujur, on the other hand, claimed a bronze medal in the men's 200m event with a national record time of 20.32 seconds. This was his first medal at an international event. The athletes included in the TOPS developmental group are entitled to a monthly allowance of Rs 25,000 and are considered long-term medal prospects. Also making the developmental list was the quartet of 4x100m quartet of Abinaya Rajarajan, Sneha Shanuvalli, Nithya Gandhe and Srabani Nanda. They won a silver medal in the event at the Asian meet. High jumper Pooja (gold, 1.89m PB), Servin Sebastian (race walking), Vithya Ramaraj (hurdles), Sachin Yadav (javelin throw), Yoonus Shah (middle-distance) were the other good performers from the Asian event to make the group after a recent meeting of the ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC). ALSO READ | Neeraj Chopra has eyes set on Tokyo World Championship after breaching 90-metre mark Javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra, steeplechaser Avinash Sable and long jumper M Sreeshankar are the only track and field names in the core group that was slashed to 94 from 179 at the beginning of the year following the end of an Olympic cycle. The pruned core list features only 42 able-bodied athletes. Gymnasts Pranati Nayak and Protishtha Samanta (vault) have been added to the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG). Nayak won a bronze medal in the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jecheon, South Korea earlier this month. This was her third bronze at the continental event after third-place finishes in Ulaanbaatar (2019) and Doha (2022). TOPS CEO NS Johal, Olympic medallist Gagan Narang, Pullela Gopichand (Vice-president, Badminton Association of India), Viren Rasquinha (Olympic Gold Quest), Aparna Popat, Dronacharya awardee para coach Dr. Satyapal Singh, and Arjuna awardee Prashanti Singh are among the members of the MOC. Rs 11.90 lakh have been approved for archers Parneet Kaur, Priyansh and Jyothi Surekha Vennam for purchase of equipment as part of their preparations for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028. All three of them are part of the TOPS core group.
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Tejaswin Shankar, Animesh Kujur Make TOPS List, Pranati Nayak Included In TAGG
Last Updated: Athletes under the TOPS scheme are permitted a monthly allowance of Rs 25,000 and are considered medal prospects at international events. India decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, sprinter Animesh Kujur and the women's 4x100m relay team were added to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme's developmental group, while gymnast Pranati Nayak was included in the Target Asian Games Group by the Sports Ministry on Monday. Athletes under the TOPS scheme are permitted a monthly allowance of Rs 25,000 and are considered medal prospects at international events. Shankar, the 26-year-old primarily based in the USA, became the first Indian to win two decathlon medals at the Asian Championships. He upgraded his previous bronze to a silver last month in Gumi, South Korea. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Amlan Borgohain secured a bronze medal in the men's 200m event with a national record time of 20.32 seconds. This marked his first international medal. The women's 4x100m relay team, comprising Abinaya Rajarajan, Sneha Shanuvalli, Nithya Gandhe, and Srabani Nanda, also made the developmental list after winning a silver medal at the Asian meet. Other notable performers from the Asian event who were included in the group after a recent meeting of the ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) include high jumper Pooja (gold, 1.89m PB), Servin Sebastian (race walking), Vithya Ramaraj (hurdles), Sachin Yadav (javelin throw), and Yoonus Shah (middle-distance). The core group, reduced from 179 to 94 names following the end of an Olympic cycle, now includes only 42 able-bodied athletes. Among them are javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra, steeplechaser Avinash Sable, and long jumper M Sreeshankar. Gymnasts Pranati Nayak and Protishtha Samanta (vault) have been added to the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG). Nayak recently won a bronze medal at the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jecheon, South Korea. This was her third bronze at the continental event, following previous wins in Ulaanbaatar (2019) and Doha (2022). The MOC includes members such as TOPS CEO NS Johal, Olympic medallist Gagan Narang, Pullela Gopichand (Vice-president, Badminton Association of India), Viren Rasquinha (Olympic Gold Quest), Aparna Popat, Dronacharya awardee para coach Dr. Satyapal Singh, and Arjuna awardee Prashanti Singh. An amount of Rs 11.90 lakh has been approved for archers Parneet Kaur, Priyansh, and Jyothi Surekha Vennam to purchase equipment as part of their preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. All three are part of the TOPS core group. Deputy Director of the Bengaluru SAI centre, Sathishkumar S, has been awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship by the UK Government for the 2025–26 academic year. He will pursue a Master's degree in Sports Management, Politics, and International Development at Loughborough University. Sathishkumar joined SAI in 2017 and has been involved in over 10 editions of the Khelo India Games. He was deputed as an official observer for India at the Paris Olympics and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. (With Inputs From PTI) First Published: June 23, 2025, 17:02 IST
