New Delhi, Nov 14 (PTI) The chess fraternity, following a host of top-notch performances in recent years, is foreseeing the government extending the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to its players despite the sport not being a part of the Games curriculum.
R Vaishali and Vidit Gujrathi who recently won the FIDE Grand Swiss women’s and open titles in a rare double for India in Isle of Man to qualify for the the prestigious Candidates tournament in Toronto next year, felt that it’s a matter of time before the government extends the scheme to chess, while All India Chess Federation vice-president Bharat Singh Chauhan said that the sports ministry had “told us we can apply” for TOPS.
TOPS is the sports ministry’s flagship programme that attempts to assist India’s premier athletes in Olympic disciplines. The scheme aims to improve the athletes’ training so they can compete for medals in the global showpiece.
“TOPS are going to support us. They have told us we can apply and they will support. This discussion has taken place. The government is supporting us on all fronts, no doubt about it,” Chauhan told
Source: PTI News
