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Competing at the global level requires intense training and coaching, which may not be accessible to everyone
Many people want to make their career in sports, but may be challenged due to their weak financial background. Either the parents may not have adequate resources or the individual may be tasked with taking care of family needs. In such cases, becoming a sportsman can become a significant challenge.
Thankfully, there are special programs and initiatives that are especially designed to support aspiring sportspersons. If you are facing a similar situation, let us take a look at some initiatives that can help sportspersons who are financially weak.
National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) – This program supports athletes by providing them funding as well as proper guidance and support from the best coaches in the world. NSDF also supplies sports equipment and facilitates infrastructure development. NSDF beneficiaries include top athletes such as Mary Kom, PV Sindhu, Abhinav Bindra and Deepa Malik.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) – This is especially designed to support athletes who have potential to win Olympic medals. TOPS is managed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). Eligible athletes receive financial assistance of Rs 50,000 per month, along with Out-of-Pocket Allowance (OPA) of Rs 25,000 for travel, lodging and training. You can be eligible for TOPS if you have delivered good performance in past events.
Khelo India Scheme – This is designed to identify good athletes at the grassroots level. The focus is on identifying talent from rural, tribal and coastal areas. In addition to financial aid, beneficiaries also receive coaching and training. Financial support is more than Rs 50,000 per month. Several National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) have been set up to groom athletes.
Sports Authority of India (SAI) Schemes – One of the programs run by SAI is the National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC). This program focuses on identifying talent in the age group of 8 to 14 years. Students get the necessary guidance and support via scientific training. SAI runs various other schemes such as ‘Come and Play Scheme’, Special Area Games (SAG), Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC) and Centre of Excellence (COX).
Awards and recognition – Athletes are also supported via various special awards and recognition schemes. Examples include Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Awards and Dronacharya Awards. These awards and recognition often include financial rewards, which are beneficial for athletes who may be financially weak.
Non-government programs for poor sportspersons – In addition to government programs, a number of initiatives have been launched by private entities, NGOs and other organizations to help sportspersons. Some of the leading sports scholarships include ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme, Colgate Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship & Mentorship Programme and Sports Global Excellence Scholarship.
Other entities who are on a mission to help sportspersons include the Oscar Foundation (‘Football and Life Skills Programme’ for underprivileged children), Victory Sports Foundation (Chennai), Sanskriti Samvardhan Mandal (SSM) (Maharashtra), Roots Foundation and India for Sports. Funding to sportspersons is also provided under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as mandated under the Companies Act 2013.
For more information, eligibility and application process, you can visit the following websites.
- MYAS: yas.nic.in
- SAI: sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in
- Khelo India: kheloindia.gov.in
- Scholarship Portals: buddy4study.com
- NSDF: nsdf.yas.gov.in
