The Indian Ministry of Sports will add seven former athletes to the Mission Olympics Cell

With a view to a great performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Ministry of Sports has added seven former athletes as core members of the revamped Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), making the important body more athlete-centered.

The MOC is guiding the preparations for the Indian Olympics through the Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS), an initiative of the Ministry. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the decision was based on experience from the last Olympic cycle.

“The contribution of former athletes in the established MOC played a significant role in supporting the training and competition of athletes who competed in Tokyo 2020 and won 7 medals and 19 in the Paralympics,” he said.

The new MOC now includes former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, World Championships in athletics long jump medalist Anju Bobby George, former Indian hockey captain Sardara Singh, rifle shooting legend Anjali Bhagwat, former hockey captain Virasquin and CEO of Olympic Gold. Monalisa Mehta and in badminton Troupe Murgunde.

The MOC is chaired by Sandip Pradhan, CEO of SAI. Olympic sailor and sports science expert Malav Shroff will continue at MOC. Adile Sumeriwala, President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), and TOPS Cmde Pushpendra Garg, CEO, are other former MOC players.

Federal Minister Arjun Munda, Ajay Singh and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, under the chairmanship of the Indian Archery Federation, the Indian Boxing Federation and the Indian Wrestling Federation, are part of the MOC. The MOC is a body set up by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to select athletes for financial support under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

The MOC also focuses on the selection, exclusion, and retention of athletes, coaches, and training institutions that are eligible for TOPS assistance. The Indian crowd returned with a record seven medals, including historic athletics gold, from the Tokyo Olympics, followed by a performance of the stars of the shadow athletes at the Paralympics in the Japanese capital.

Mission Olympic Cell: Baichung Bhutia, Anju Bobby George, Anjali Bhagwat, Troupe Murgunde, Sardara Singh, Viren Rasquinha, Malav Shroff, Monalisa Mehta, Presidents of the Indian Olympic Federation, Indian Wrestling Federation, Indian Archery Federation and Indian Boxing Federation, SA (Executive Director) director (sports), MYAS; CEO, TOPS (meeting) and co-CEO, TOPS (joint meeting).