Lok Sabha Question No. 3309 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Performance of Sportspersons
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Nishikant  Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3309 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2023

Performance of Sportspersons

3309. DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

Will  the  Minister  of  YOUTH  AFFAIRS  AND  SPORTS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the details of the steps taken by the Government for improving the performance of sportspersons in the country during the last five years; and
- (b)  the  steps  taken  for  making  country  to  perform better at international level in comparison to other countries?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

(a) & (b): Sportspersons preparing for participation in international sports  events  are  continuously  assisted  for  their  training  and competitive  exposures  within  the  country  and  abroad  through  the Annual Calendar of Training & Competitions (ACTC), funded under the  Scheme  of  Assistance  to  National  Sports  Federations  (NSFs). Further,  the  Target  Olympic  Podium  Scheme  (TOPS)  has  been implemented since 2014 for meeting the requirements of customized training of the athletes with medal prospects in mega sports  events  such  as  the  Olympics,  the  Asian  Games  and  the Commonwealth  Games,  to  help  them  excel  at  these  international sporting  events.  At  present,  98  individual  athletes  &  02  hockey teams  (Men's  &  Women's)  are  included  in  the  TOPS  core  group. Under  the  TOPS  Development  Group,  talent  identification  of  165 elite sporting talents has been completed.

The  Government  has  launched  Khelo  India  Programmes  with  the twin objectives of mass participation and promotion of excellence in  sports.  Various  programmes  have  been  launched  under  this scheme to promote sports and  to improve the level of sports and infrastructure  facilities  including  stadiums,  playing  fields,  tracks and  sports  training  across  the  country.  At  present,  2759  athletes are  covered  for  training  and  financial  support  under  Khelo  India Scheme.

The  Sports  Authority  of India (SAI) is  also  implementing  the following sports promotional schemes across the country to identify talented  sportspersons  in  various  age  groups  and  nurture  them  to excel at national and international levels:-

- I. National Centres of Excellence (NCOE)
- II. SAI Training Centre (STC)
- III. Extension Centre of STC
- IV. National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC)

A  total  of  188  centres  including  NCOEs,  STCs,  Extension  Centres, etc. are functional for implementation of above sports promotional schemes of SAI. Presently, 7998 talented sports persons (4969 boys and  3029  girls)  are  being  trained  in  34  sports  disciplines  on residential and non-residential basis. The  selected  athletes  are  provided  support  in  the  form  of  expert coaches, sports equipment, boarding and lodging, sports kit, competition  exposure,  educational  expenses,  medical/  insurance and stipend as per the approved scheme norms.

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