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The sports ministry has cleared the request for financial support for several prominent athletes. The request was received from the Olympic trio set of boxer Nikhat Zareen, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, and table tennis player Manika Batra regarding foreign training. The decision came during a meeting held in New Delhi on April 3. It underlines the government's commitment to aiding the preparation of Indian athletes for international competitions.
Boxers Nikhat, Preeti Pawar, Parveen Hooda, and Lovlina Borgohain are scheduled to attend a training camp in Turkey alongside their coaches and a physio, as announced by the ministry. Wrestlers Sujeet (65kg), Deepak Punia (86kg) and Naveen (74kg) will move to Russia with their boxing partners, coach and physiotherapists for training ahead of the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament this month.
All financial aid comes under the Sports Ministry’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Shooter Bhowneesh Mendiratta has secured a quota place for Paris. He will travel to Italy for training. He will begin his training under the guidance of personal coach Daniele Di Spigno before the ISSF World Cup in Baku.
Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medallist Sreeshankar's proposal to compete in the Suzhou and Doha Diamond League events has also been approved.
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TOPS will cover Sreeshankar’s coach and psychologist’s airfare, boarding/lodging costs, out-of-pocket allowance, visa fees, and medical insurance costs, among other expenses.
Paddler Manika Batra will receive financial support to participate in the WTT Feeder Varazdin in Croatia. Her coach Aman Balgu will accompany her to the World Mixed Doubles Olympic Qualification Event in Havirov, Czech Republic.
Three Indian shooters Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Raiza Dhillon (skeet) and Rajeshwari Kumari (trap) along with para-badminton player Palak Kohli have been possessed in the TOPS core group for this Olympic cycle.
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