New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) The sports ministry on Tuesday sanctioned approximately Rs.30 lakh as financial assistance, under the government’s Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme, for four top male shuttlers — Parupalli Kashyap, Kidambi Srikanth, H.S. Prannoy and R.M.V. Gurusaidutt.

The four are undergoing training at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad which required funding for the purchase of equipment and for deployment of support personnel for the training of these players.

A sum of Rs.28.1 lakh has been approved for gym equipment while Rs.40,000 and Rs.20,000 have been kept separately for a physiotherapist and a masseur per month, respectively. In addition, Rs.30,000 has set aside for the boarding and lodging of the two support staff.

The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) assistance is out of the contribution made by the India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to the TOP Scheme.

According to regulations, the amount sanctioned should be utilised only for the purpose for which it is sanctioned and unspent balance, if any, shall be refunded immediately.

The facilities acquired should be made available to the four shuttlers as part of their training. Also, there is no objection to the academy extending these facilities to other trainees when these are not being used by the four selected players.

While the equipments will presently be in the custody of the academy, the ownership will be with the Sports Authority of India (SAI).