Sports Ministry today sanctioned a budget of of Rs 112.50 lakhs as financial assitance for Beijing Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra to hire a personal physiotherapist and strength and conditioning specialist to help him prepare better for 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Ministry sacntioned the money from the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) at the request of Bindra.
"According to a communication sent to Abhinav Bindra from the Ministry, the services of physiotherapist and strength/conditioning specialist are approved on the basis of payment of remuneration at the rate of Rupees Sixty thousand per month for the period from 01.07.2015 to 31.08.2015 (14 months)," a statement from the Ministry said.
"In addition, the physiotherapist and strength and conditioning specialist will be allowed boarding/lodging, DA and air travel (excursion class) during Bindra's training and competitions. The expenditure on account of engagement of the physiotherapist and strength/conditioning specialist will be met out of the budget of Rs. 112.50 lakhs allocated to Abhinav Bindra," it said.
Apart from Bindra, the Ministry has also approved a release of an advance to the tune of 90 per cent of total amount from the NSDF to shooter Mohd Asab for his next session of 14-days training from August 18 to September 1 in Italy.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has also sanctioned financial assistance to luger Shiva Keshavan from NSDF after due consideration of his performances at the Asian level.
The Ministry has approved charges for Keshavan's coaching for a period of one year from April 2015 onwards at USD 4000 per month with a maximum assistance of Rs 10 lakhs
The Ministry has also sanctioned the release of 50 per cent of Keshavan's coaching fee (Rs 5 lakhs) as first installment.
