CM hands aid to 60 sportspersons under ‘Mission Excellence’ scheme

HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday handed over financial assistance cheques to 60 sportspersons under Mission Excellence, a move aimed at helping budding talent in the international arena.

The Delhi government started the Mission Excellence scheme in 2018 to provide outstanding sportspersons with financial aid of up to ₹16 lakh, to ensure that talented players do not face a lack of funds. In the first year of its launch, 117 players were recommended by the committee of experts in the respective disciplines and financial assistance of ₹9,51,41,000 was disbursed.

At the cheque distribution event on Friday, Kejriwal said, “We have seen how sportspersons receive no support from the administration or the society until their pursuit leads to a medal. Once these sportspersons win medals, there is a hoard of people rallying behind them, but in most cases, they don’t even get unconditional familial support with parents nudging them towards focusing on studies. Governments also fail at providing support and infrastructure to these players. This is where the Delhi government aims to intervene. A lot goes into making a sportsperson out of a player.”

“...This scheme is our government’s pursuit towards ensuring that talent doesn’t have to deal with monetary hardships at any point in their journey. We had supported 117 such players in the first year of the scheme. Today, we’re extending financial assistance to 60 players under the scheme... We are developing international level sports infrastructure in Delhi,” according to Kejriwal.

This is our pursuit to ensure talent doesn’t have to deal with monetary hardships. ARVIND KEJRIWAL, CM