Indian track and field athletes Jyothi Yarraji and Shaili Singh have received government approval to compete in multiple competitions in Europe as they aim to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The decision was made during the Sports Ministry’s Mission Olympic Cell meeting, where the athletes requested financial assistance for their upcoming events.
Yarraji plans to participate in six international events, while Singh is set to compete in four events in May and June. The Mission Olympic Cell, under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, will cover their expenses including airfare, accommodation, medical insurance, and more.
In addition to the track and field athletes, badminton players Kiran George, Ayush Shetty, and Rakshitha Sree also had their proposals approved. George will compete in the Malaysia Masters, Shetty in the Thailand Open and Malaysia Masters, and Rakshitha in the Denmark Challenge and Slovenia Open.
Table tennis players Manav Thakkar and Archana Kamath will be participating in WTT Contender events in Rio De Janeiro and Mendoza, Argentina, with their expenses covered by TOPS. Skeet shooter Anantjeet Singh Naruka will train in Italy with coach Ennio Falco before the World Cup in Baku and Lonato, with TOPS covering his training expenses.
Furthermore, badminton player Ashwini Ponnappa, shooter Maheshwari Chauhan, and rower Balraj Panwar have been inducted into the TOPS Core group, with Ponnappa’s doubles partner Tanisha Crasto being promoted from the development to the core group for the Paris Olympics. The Indian athletes are gearing up for a challenging and exciting journey towards Olympic qualification.