Under which government initiative are Indian athletes provided financial assistance, training support, and international exposure to prepare for the Olympics?

• TOPS offers athletes support for training, coaching, equipment, and international competitions.

• The scheme has helped athletes like PV Sindhu and Neeraj Chopra, who received top-level training and international exposure leading to their success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

• TOPS is crucial for India’s strategy to improve its performance in Olympic Games and other prestigious sports events.

Additional Knowledge:

Fit India Movement:

• The Fit India Movement was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29 August 2019 to encourage physical activity and wellness across India. While important for fitness, it does not focus specifically on Olympic athletes.

Sports Authority of India (SAI):

• The Sports Authority of India was established in 1984 to develop sports infrastructure, provide coaching, and promote sports across the country, but TOPS is the specific scheme for Olympic preparations.

Khelo India Youth Games:

• The Khelo India Youth Games were launched in 2018 to promote youth sports and identify talent at the grassroots level, but the program is focused more on the youth and less on Olympic-level athletes.