Great news for Indian hockey! The Sports Ministry has approved a monthly allowance of ₹25,000 for all players selected for the men’s and women’s national training camps. This welcome decision comes after repeated requests from Hockey India.
Who Benefits?
A total of 80 players (40 men and 40 women) will receive this “out of pocket” allowance. These are players in the developmental group of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), a program designed to help India’s top athletes. This new allowance will cost the government ₹20 lakh every month. For players already in the core group of athletes, their allowance is even higher at ₹50,000 per month.
What’s Next?
Hockey India will need to send a list of eligible players each month so the funds can be distributed. While many hockey players currently receive salaries from their employers, there’s also been talk for a few years about a new “graded contract system” from Hockey India, though that’s still being discussed. On top of these allowances, players can also earn prize money for their strong performances in major international competitions like the Olympics and Asian Games.
This move should definitely help support our talented hockey players as they train and prepare to make India proud on the international stage!
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