Last year, the IOC had suspended the Indian Olympic

Association (IOA) which had caused huge embarrassment in the national and international sports fraternity. "It is already challenging enough to compete against the world's best athletes without having to worry about how I am going to pay for a place to sleep and to eat. Last month, despite the personal assurance from the Hon'ble Sports Minister, the NSDF released a small part of the required budget (less than five per cent)," Shiva said. "I am grateful to the IOC for their support which will enable me to travel for the Olympic test event and qualify for the 2014 Games. "I am also hopeful that the Hon'ble Sports Minister will ensure that the basic training costs are borne by the Government, and not personally by the athletes who are already giving their all to represent the nation," added a relieved Shiva from Sochi. The National Sports Development Fund's (NSDF) main objective is "to administer and apply the moneys of the fund for promotion of sport in general, sports disciplines and individual sportspersons for achieving excellence in National and International levels".