In addition, Nikhat Zareen emphasized the importance that financial support is for athletes, particularly early in their careers.
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During the ‘National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100’, the two-time World champion, Nikhat Zareen, stated that the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Khelo India program have transformed the scene for athletes, allowing them to focus on their sport without worrying about finance. The central government started these initiatives in 2014 to give financial support to athletes representing India. Zareen spoke about the impact of these programs during a panel discussion at the. She explained that before TOPS, athletes frequently had to utilize their own money to represent India. With TOPS in place, participants can now focus on their performance and winning medals for their country.
In addition, Nikhat Zareen emphasized the importance that financial support is for athletes, particularly early in their careers. She claims that Khelo India has been instrumental in helping athletes receive financial support throughout their early years. She claimed that because of this backing, many women had taken up sports, breaking multiple national records in the process.
The two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen praised the government’s initiatives to inspire and empower athletes and used her personal experiences to emphasize the beneficial effects these initiatives may have. Zareen claimed that while she was injured and out of the ring for a year, she received discouragement and taunting from individuals. They even assumed that her career was finished. This was what encouraged her to make a comeback. She did exactly so and has established herself as one of the biggest superstars in India.
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India programs have transformed the lives of many Indian athletes by providing critical financial help and encouraging a culture of performance. These measures have reduced financial burdens, freed up athletes to focus on practice and performance, and improved the international visibility of Indian sports. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) created TOPS in September 2014 and redesigned it in April 2018 intending to improve India’s performance at the Olympics and Paralympics.
To manage TOPS athletes, the program offers a specialized technical support team that offers all-inclusive help. The TOPS Core Group athletes are currently supported by the system throughout 13 sports disciplines, in addition to the men’s and women’s hockey teams. It additionally promotes 165 TOPS Development Group participants competing in 12 different sports.
On the other hand, Khelo India, which translates as Let’s Play India, is a scheme which the Government of India introduced in 2018 which was then launched by the Sports Minister and Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Under this scheme, Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are organized every year by the government which are multi-sport events that promote the grassroot level sports in India. The games have witnessed the participation of athletes like Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Srihari Nataraj, and more who have brought laurels to the nation.
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