Rio bound paddlers included under TOPS

Paddlers Achanta Sharath Kamal, Soumyajit Ghosh, Manika Batra and Mouma Das will receive the Sports Ministry’s fund of up to Rs. 30 lakh each under the Target Olympic Scheme

Manika Batra will now get a fund of up to Rs 30 lakh to aid in her Olympic training.

Paddlers Achanta Sharath Kamal, Soumyajit Ghosh, Manika Batra and Mouma Das — who have qualified for the Rio Olympics — will receive the Sports Ministry’s fund of up to Rs. 30 lakh each under the Target Olympic Scheme (TOPS), it was announced on Sunday.

Sharath and Mouma on Saturday secured the Rio Olympic berth after winning final rounds in stage 2 of the Asia Olympic qualification, two days after Soumayajit and Manika did it.

“By virtue of qualifying for Rio Olympics 2016, all the four paddlers have been included in Target Olympic Scheme (TOPS) which offers them a tailor-made financial assistance up to Rs.30 lakh each,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Department of Sports) has formulated the TOP scheme for identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.