Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel has reconstituted TOP committee with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games under the `Target Olympic Podium’ scheme. The 10-member committee will select elite athletes to provided financial assistance for their customized training at institutes having world class facilities and other necessary support.

The Committee will decide on its own procedures and will be competent to invite subject experts as and when required. The Initial tenure of the committee will be one year from the date of notification. A programme, namely TOP (Target Olympic Podium) Scheme was formulated within the overall ambit of National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.

Under the scheme the selected athletes are provided financial assistance for their customized training at Institutes having world class facilities and other necessary support which is expected to result in improved performance and a higher position in medals tally for the country.  Benchmark for selection of athletes under the scheme is in relation to international standards.

TOP COMMITTEE: 1. Abhinav Bindra, Olympic Gold Medalist, Chairman; 2. Anil Khanna, Sports Administrator, Member; 3. Prakash Padukone, Ex Badminton Player and Coach, Member; 4. Karnam Malleshwari, Olympic weightlifter, Member; 5. P T Usha, Olympian, Member; 6. Murlidhar Raja, President, Sports Administrator, Member; 7. Anjali Bhagwat, Shooter, Member; 8. Rekha Yadav, Secretary Railway Sports Promotion Board, Member; 9. Dr S S Roy, ED (Teams) SAI, Member; 10. Inder Dhamija, Joint Secretary (Sports), Member Secretary.