Food budget for athletes reduced by SAI ahead of Tokyo 2020

In a controversial move, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has reduced the food and supplement budget for athletes who are training for the Tokyo Olympics next year. The drastic step comes after the economical and financial constraints in the nation, but the sports ministry has stated that there will be no compromise on the quality or the quantity of food on offer.

The SAI has reduced the amount kept for food from Rs 690 a day for the athletes to Rs 375 a day. A few athletes get Rs 750 a day based on their physical needs and the intensity of their sport. The officials have reduced the amount spent on food per day, but keep repeating that it will in no way hamper the athletes in the SAI camps, who are gritting it out and perfecting their skills.

According to sports secretary RS Julaniya, the sports ministry is not providing the players with lesser food, but is rather giving them unlimited quality food after advise from the nutritionists. If the players need more food, then the SAI will ensure that the same is provided, and that the athletes do not have to spend their own resources on it. The SAI, however, have cut down on supplying the players with packaged foods like juices. Instead, the players will be given fresh fruits and juices, thus eliminating the middlemen in the entire process. Chefs have been appointed at a contractual basis.

The SAI has also stated that that they will ensure that supplements are provided to each individual after analyzing their needs and requirements, which will be determined by scientific testing and tools. As there is no one supplement for all players, the needs of every player will be assessed, following which the supplements will be given, even if it is more than the daily budget that has been set for every athlete.

In June this year,Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had stated that all trainees in the SAI camps across the nation, whether junior or senior, will be given the same kind of food. Earlier, there was a different food allowance based on seniority for the players.