In efforts to improve its perfomance as a sporting nation, India is in the works to adopt models followed by Australia and United Kingdom, informed a top sports ministry official. After a rather shameful performance at the Rio Olympics held this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced setting up of a task force to prepare an action plan for the next three Olympic Games.
"We are trying to learn from the Australian and UK models wherein the government spends for sports promotion. In this regard, a delegation has been sent to Australia to understand their model," Rajiv Yadav, Secretary, Sports Ministry, said. He added, "If you see, Australia's performance has seen a rise since the Montreal Olymipcs (1976). And we hope we can also go up in the future by following their model and executing it. The focus will be mainly on sports sports science and sports medicine."
The official said the ministry is always willing to support individual academies and centres of excellence set up by athletes. Speaking at a function organised to award cash prizes to performers of the Rio Olympics and the Paralympic Games, he said, "We will always be supporting academies and centre of excellence by athletes." Chief Guest of the event, held at the Constitution Club of India, Sports Minister Vijay Goel reiterated the government's commitment towards the promotion and development of the sports in the country. He assured all medal-winning sportspersons that the administration would not leave any stone unturned in promoting and supporting all sports in the country.
Goel said that not only the winners, but those who finished fourth or performed really well, will be considered too for special rewards. He informed that it is also being deliberated if the Paralympic athletes would be rewarded at par with other athletes.
List of award winners:
Mariyappan Thangavelu (Gold in High Jump), – 75 Lakhs.
Devendra Jhajharia (Gold in Javelin Throw) – 75 Lakhs
PV Sindhu (Silver in Badminton) – Rs. 50 Lakhs.
Deepa Malik (Silver in Shot Put) – Rs. 50 Lakhs
Sakshi Malik (Bronze in Wrestling) – Rs. 30 Lakhs
Varun Singh Bhati (Bronze in High Jump) – Rs. 30 Lakhs.
