Mission Olympic Cell Draws Road to 2020 and 2024 Olympics, Names TOPS Athletes

New Delhi [India], Nov 15 (ANI): The Mission Olympic Cell drew the road map for the upcoming 2020 and 2024 Olympics in an athlete review meeting with regard to preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athletes.

This was the first review after a series of international events such as the Asian Games and the Youth Olympics.

The performance of potential athletes in the disciplines for inclusion in the TOPS scheme was reviewed in the context of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paris 2024 Olympics. It was also decided to extend support towards a specific developmental group for the 2024 Olympics.

Athletes from other sports will be reviewed and added at a later stage.

A detailed analysis of all athletes was undertaken by Sports Authority of India's (SAI) Mission Olympic Cell to ensure the best possible prospects are identified, in consultation with the National Sports Federations. The review was undertaken on the parameters like Global performance trends over the last three to four Olympic Games and two most recent World Championships, Performance of competing international counterparts(athletes) in the last three years, High performance age of a typical Olympic medalist specific to each event, Performance of Indian athletes in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and their progression chart, and feedback from NSF, National Observers, High Performance Managers, Project Officers and Coaches, wherever applicable.

In athletics, the players were chosen based on three criteria including medal probability, ability to finish in top 8 in their event at Tokyo 2020 and developmental athletes for 2024 Olympics. Those included in TOPS are Neeraj Chopra (Men's Javelin Throw), Tejinder Toor (Men's Shot Put), Seema Punia (Women's Discus Throw), Arpinder Singh (Men's Triple Jump), Md. Anas (Men's 400m), Hima Das (Women's 400m), Ayyasamy Dharun (Men's 400m Hurdles), Jinson Johnson (Men's 800m and 1500m), Sreeshankar Murali (Men's Long Jump), Avinash Sable (Men's 3000m Steeplechase).

In addition to the above, the athletes whose performance will be reviewed at the Asian Championships in April 2019 are Manjit Singh (Men's 800m and 1500m), Tejaswin Shankar (Men's High Jump), Gavit Murali (Men's 10,000m), Swapna Barman (Women's Heptathlon), and Beant Singh (Men's 800m).

The wrestlers included under the TOPs scheme are Sandeep Tomar (Men's 57kg Freestyle), Utkarsh Kale (Men's 57kg Freestyle), Bajrang Punia (Men's 65 kg Freestyle), Deepak Punia (Men's 86 kg Freestyle), Vinesh Phogat (Women's 50/53 Freestyle), Ritu Phogat (Women's 50/53 Freestyle), Pooja Dhanda (Women's 57 kg Freestyle), Sakshi Malik (Women's 62 kg Freestyle (up to Asian Championships in 2019), Divya Kakran (Women's 68 kg Freestyle), and Sajan (Men's Greco-Roman 77 kg).

Naveen who competes in Men's 57 kg freestyle and Vijay who competes in Men's Greco-Roman 60 kg are being considered for the developmental group for the 2024 Olympics

In Weightlifting, India's best performance in the Olympics for Women's has been a bronze and in Men's 11th. Therefore the criteria for selection was set at medal probable for women lifters and top 10 for men's. On the basis of that, Ragala Venkat Rahul (Men's 96kg), and Mirabai Chanu (Women's 49kg) were chosen for the TOPS scheme.

Achinta Sheuli (Men's 77 kg), Jhili Dalabehera (Women's 49 kg) and Jeremy Lalrinnunga (Men's 67 kg) are being considered for the developmental group for the 2024 Olympics.

The Target Olympic Podium Scheme is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which is a scheme to provide assistance to India's top athletes. (ANI)

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