With eyes on Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, athletes shortlisted under TOPS

The Mission Olympic Cell met for an athlete review meeting in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for the TOPS athletes. This was the first review after a series of international events such as the Asian Games and the Youth Olympics. The performance of potential athletes in the disciplines for inclusion in the TOPS scheme was reviewed in the context of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paris 2024 Olympics. It was also decided to extend support towards a specific developmental group for the 2024 Olympics. Athletes from other sports will be reviewed and added at a later stage.

A detailed analysis of all athletes was undertaken by SAI's Mission Olympic Cell to ensure the best possible prospects are identified, in consultation with the National Sports Federations. The review was undertaken on the following parameters:

• Global performance trends over the last three to four Olympic Games and two most recent World Championships

• Performance of competing international counterparts(athletes) in the last three years

• High performance age of a typical Olympic medalist specific to each event

• Performance of Indian athletes in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and their progression chart

• Feedback from NSF, National Observers, High Performance Managers, Project Officers and Coaches, wherever applicable

Athletics:

Athletes were chosen based on three criteria - medal probability, ability to finish in TOP 8 in their event at Tokyo 2020 and developmental athletes for 2024 Olympics. The following athletes were included in TOPS.

1. Neeraj Chopra - Men’s Javelin Throw

2. Tejinder Toor - Men’s Shot Put

3. Seema Punia - Women’s Discus Throw

4. Arpinder Singh - Men’s Triple Jump

5. Md. Anas - Men’s 400m

6. Hima Das – Women’s 400m

7. Ayyasamy Dharun - Men’s 400m Hurdles

8. Jinson Johnson - Men’s 800m and 1500m

9. Sreeshankar Murali – Men’s Long Jump

10. Avinash Sable – Men’s 3000m Steeplechase up to World Championships 2019

In addition to the above, the performance of the following athletes will be reviewed at the Asian Championships in April 2019.

1. Manjit Singh - Men’s 800m and 1500m

2. Tejaswin Shankar – Men’s High Jump

3. Gavit Murali–Men’s 10,000m

4. Swapna Barman –Women’s Heptathlon

5. Beant Singh – Men's 800m

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Wrestling:

The following wrestlers were included under the TOPS scheme.

1) Sandeep Tomar (Men's 57kg Freestyle)

2) Utkarsh Kale (Men's 57kg Freestyle)

3) Bajrang Punia (Men's 65 kg Freestyle)

4) Deepak Punia (Men's 86 kg Freestyle)

5) Vinesh Phogat (Women's 50/53 Freestyle)

6) Ritu Phogat (Women's 50/53 Freestyle)

7) Pooja Dhanda (Women's 57 kg Freestyle)

8) Sakshi Malik (Women's 62 kg Freestyle (up to Asian Championships in 2019)

9) Divya Kakran (Women's 68 kg Freestyle)

10): Sajan (Men's Greco-Roman 77 kg)

Naveen who competes in Men's 57 kg freestyle and Vijay who competes in Men's Greco-Roman 60 kg are being considered for the developmental group for the 2024 Olympics

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Weightlifting:

India’s best performance in the Olympics for Women’s has been a bronze and in Men’s 11th. Therefore the criteria for selection was set at medal probable for women lifters and top 10 for men’s. The final decision in weightlifting was as follows:

1) Ragala Venkat Rahul: Men's 96kg

2) Mirabai Chanu: Women's 49kg

Achinta Sheuli (Men's 77 kg), Jhili Dalabehera (Women's 49 kg) and Jeremy Lalrinnunga (Men's 67 kg) are being considered for the developmental group for the 2024 Olympics.

The Target Olympic Podium Scheme is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which is a scheme to provide assistance to India’s top athletes.