Hockey team to get monthly allowance

New Delhi: The Mission Olympic Cell of the sports ministry on Wednesday approved a monthly allowance of 50,000 for each of the 18 members of the men’s hockey team under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme. The allowance under TOPS was started by the ministry last year but the hockey team will be getting pocket allowance for the first time. The decision to include hockey was taken after India’s performance improved under new coach Harendra Singh as they finished runners- up in the Champions Trophy in the Netherlands. Among the other notable decisions taken, double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar has been sanctioned 6.62 lakh for hiring two sparring partners and a physiotherapist.