Bhambri, Sanjita left out from TOPS

NEW DELHI: Tennis player Yuki Bhambri and weightlifter Sanjita Chanu were on Wednesday dropped from the sports ministry’s flagship programme, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), for different reasons.

Bhambri was left out as he will not take part in the Jakarta Asian Games in August-september as the dates clash with the US Open, where he is expected to qualify for the main draw. Men’s doubles specialist Divij Sharan, 32, has been included in the scheme till the Asiad. Sanjita was dropped following her suspension by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on alleged doping charges.

In other decisions, ~26.03 lakh was sanctioned to Rohan Bopanna for the use of coach and physio for 12 weeks, starting May 7. ~65.42 lakh was sanctioned for trap shooters Shreyasi Singh, Seema Tomar, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Ankur Mittal and Shardul Vihan for training and participating in a competition in Italy ahead of the Asiad and ~1.43 lakh was approved for the purchase of ammunition for Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anish Bhanwala.