How has it been for India in sports in 2018?
- The year 2018 has turned out to be the landmark for India in terms of achievements in Sports arena.
- Commonwealth Games, 2018 - 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia was India's 18th appearance at the Commonwealth Games.
- With 66 Medals, India finished 3rd for the tournament. It was India's best position since the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
- Asian Games, 2018, and Para Asian Games, 2018 - India put a commendable performance in Asian Games 2018 at Jakarta and Palembang (Indonesia).
- With 69 medals, India was placed at 8th position in medals tally.
- With 72 medals, India finished overall 9th, the highest ever by India at an Asian Para Game, outdoing the previous best by a huge margin.
- Youth Olympic Games - India finished overall 14th in the medals tally, in Youth Olympic Game (YOG) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- With 13 medals, outdoing the previous best, this was the highest ever by India at YOG.
- 2018 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships - It was held in New Delhi, where Mary Kom of India beat Ukrainian boxer Hana Okhota to win the gold in the light flyweight category.
- She became the first woman boxer to win six gold medals in the AIBA (International Boxing Association) World Boxing Championships.
- India stood 3rd in the medal tally with one gold, one silver and two bronze.
What are the major support initiatives?
- National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) - NSDF was established with the objective of promotion of excellence in sports through support to top level sportspersons and creation of sports infrastructure in priority disciplines.
- India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) made contribution of Rs.10.00 Crore to the NSDF.
- The IIFCL contribution is being utilized for promotion of sports in the disciplines Badminton, Archery and Para Sports.
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy - The Union Sports Minister approved the revised guidelines for MAKA Trophy.
- It was to rationalize and simplify the selection of top performing university in sports for award of MAKA Trophy.
- The amount of award money for the overall all winner university has been enhanced from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh.
- Pension - Pension to meritorious sportspersons was revised for the welfare of Sportspersons.
- The rate of pension has been doubled of the existing rate of pension on winning medals in international sports events.
- The rate of pension of medal winners in the Para-Olympics Games and Para Asian Games will be at par with winners in the Olympic Games and Asian Games respectively.
- Scholarship programme under Khelo India - More than 1100 players were identified for a scholarship programme under Khelo India Talent Identification Development scheme.
- Under this programme, an annual stipend of Rs. 1.2 lakhs will be given to the players on a quarterly.
- It is designed to take care of their expenses on training, development, boarding and lodging and tournament exposure apart from offering them out of pocket expense allowance.
- Financial Assistance - The Ministry is operating Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS).
- It is to assist outstanding sportspersons of the past who had brought glory to the country, living in impoverished circumstances.
- Special (Cash) Awards - It is a Scheme of Special (Cash) Awards to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches.
- A total of around Rs. 11 crore has been given to winning sportspersons during 2018-19 so far.
What are the institutional and promotional programmes?
- Government has taken up a two pronged approach to sports –
- nurture top sports talent
- find untapped sports stars at the grassroots
- Khelo India School Games (KISG), 2018 - 1st Khelo India School Games, 2018 were held with participation from all States and Union Territories.
- Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana outshined others.
- More than 1100 sports talents have been identified; they will be imparted training for next 8 years with annual expenditure on each athlete of Rs. 5 lakh.
- Republic Day Parade Tableau of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports was adjudged the best among all Ministries.
- Theme of the Tableau of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports was Khelo India.
- National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) - NADA put it efforts during the 1st Khelo India School Games, Delhi.
- It ensured that sports integrity is maintained and the participating sportspersons become aware of International Standards on it.
- A total of 377 dope tests were conducted by NADA to make the school games dope free.
- NADA also tested as many as 498 Indian Athletes prior to Asian Games, the largest testing conducted by NADA before any international games.
- To monitor the Code Compliance activities, World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) audit team audited anti doping program of NADA, India last year.
- Followed by Corrective Action Report recommended by WADA's audit team, NADA has implemented the corrective action.
- As per the annual statistics report published by WADA, the number of anti doping rule violation in India has come down, bringing India from 3rd to 6th place globally.
- National Sports University, Manipur - The National Sports University Act, 2018 came into place for establishing a National Sports University in Manipur.
- It will be the first of its kind to promote sports education (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programmes) in sports sciences, sports technology, sports management and sports coaching.
- Besides, it will also function as the national training centre for select sports disciplines, by adopting best international practices.
- National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR) - The scheme aims to support high level research, education and innovation with respect to high performance of elite athletes.
- The scheme has two components-
- setting up of NCSSR at NIS, Patiala
- creation of support to Sports Sciences Department in select Universities and Sports Medicine Departments in select Medical Colleges/ Institutes/ Hospitals
- National Sports & Adventure Awards 2018 :
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - to S. Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting) and Virat Kohli (Cricket)
- Dronacharya Award, Arjuna Award and Dhyan Chand Award - to 32 sportspersons/coaches in various disciplines
- Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award - to 10 persons in categories of Land Adventure, Water Adventure and one award to Life Time Achievement category
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy - to Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar to three (3) entities -
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited in 'Identification and Nurturing of Budding & Young Talent' category
- JSW Steel in 'Encouragement to Sports through Corporate Social Responsibility'
- Isha Foundation in category of 'Sports for Development'
- Kho Kho - Participation of Kho Kho team from India at the First International Kho Kho Championship in England was approved with financial support from the Government.
- The approval was given for the first time in relaxation of existing guidelines.
- Notably, sports disciplines like Kho Kho are categorised as “Others” which will not be eligible for financial support for participation in International sporting events.
- PG Diploma course - The Ministry has funded and guided Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak to commence a 2-year Post-Graduate Diploma course in Business Management in Sports.
- This is to strengthen the overall sports ecosystem in the country and to develop expertise in various sectors.
Source: PIB
