About Target Olympic Podium or TOPS scheme
- For the 2020 Tokyo Olympics specifically, a programme called the Target Olympic Podium or TOPS scheme was established in 2014 under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) to identify and support medal prospects.
- This scheme was refurbished in April 2018 to establish a technical support team to manage TOPS athletes and provide more comprehensive support.
- TOPS provides funding for foreign training, international competition, equipment and coaching camps, besides a monthly stipend of ₹50,000 for each sportsperson.
- While TOPS has been hailed by many sports persons, it has its drawbacks.
- Eligibility criteria: For instance, a sportsperson only becomes eligible on qualification for the Olympics. Golfer Aditi Ashok, who came within a reach of a medal in Tokyo, could not benefit from TOPS since she only qualified 60 days before the main event.
- Low monthly stipend: Even the monthly stipend of ₹50,000 has been deemed to be too low, given that several professional athletes hail from underprivileged backgrounds and have families to support.
