Indian archer Atanu Das, who is an Olympian and World Championship silver medallist, has been reintroduced into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).?
Other notable athletes such as rifle shooter Mehuli Ghosh and 15-year-old Tilottama Sen, who won a bronze medal at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup 2023, have been included in TOPS.?
27 new athletes were added to the TOPS Core and Development lists, bringing the total number of TOPS athletes to 270 (101 in Core, 169 in Development).
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) initiative was launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in September 2014 to enhance India's performance at the Olympics and Paralympics.?
It was later revamped in April 2018 to include a technical support team to manage the TOPS athletes and offer comprehensive assistance.?
The MYAS prioritises the selection of TOPS members, with an emphasis on ensuring representation from high-priority sports such as Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Shooting, and Wrestling.
To provide assistance to athletes selected under the Scheme, a dedicated body called the Mission Olympic Cell was established. This body operates under the leadership of the Director General of the Sports Authority of India.?
In November 1998, the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was created under the Charitable Endowments Act of 1890 with the objective of promoting sports and games in India.?
The NSDF has played a crucial role in the functioning of TOPS across various disciplines.
The TOP Scheme-sponsored athletes achieved success at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2018 Commonwealth Games. P.V. Sindhu and Sakshi Malik won medals in Badminton and Wrestling at the Rio Olympics.?
The TOPS athletes also won medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games. The TOP Scheme supported 47 out of 70 medal-winning athletes at the Commonwealth Games.