Badminton Star Ashwini Ponnappa Denies Receiving Rs 1.50 Crore in TOPS Funding for Paris Olympics
Ashwini Ponnappa, the renowned badminton player, has recently denied reports of receiving Rs 1.50 crore as part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) funding from the Indian government for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. The news was reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI), which also stated that HS Prannoy, a bronze-medallist at the 2023 World Championships and Asian Games, received Rs 1.8 crore for his training.
The Indian government has been actively supporting its athletes through the TOPS scheme, which aims to provide financial assistance to potential medal winners at the Olympics. The scheme covers various aspects of an athlete’s training, including coaching, equipment, and travel expenses. As part of the scheme, the government had reportedly spent Rs 26.60 lakh and Rs 9.33 lakh for the training of PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen in Germany and France, respectively.
However, Ponnappa has denied receiving any such funding from the government. In a recent interview, she clarified that she had not received any financial assistance from the TOPS scheme for the Paris Olympics. She also added that she was solely focused on her training and was looking forward to representing India at the Olympics.
Ponnappa is a well-known name in the Indian badminton circuit and has represented the country in several international tournaments. She has won numerous medals, including a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships. She is also a two-time Olympian, having represented India at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Indian badminton team has been performing exceptionally well in recent years, with several players making their mark on the international stage. The government’s support through the TOPS scheme has been instrumental in their success, providing them with the necessary resources to compete at the highest level.
In conclusion, while Ponnappa has denied receiving any funding from the TOPS scheme for the Paris Olympics, the Indian government’s support for its athletes through the scheme has been crucial in their success. With the Olympics just around the corner, all eyes will be on the Indian badminton team as they aim to bring home medals for the country.
