CHENNAI: In another twist to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme messy drama, its head Anurag Thakur has quit. There are also others other than the BJP MP, who might step down citing unhappiness over functioning of the programme. It’s learnt Thakur resigned shortly after Abhinav Bindra left saying he couldn’t spare time.
Express learnt more might quit. Manisha Malhotra, who was heading the Mittal Champions Trust, was peeved at the way the ministry is functioning and said, “I don’t know how long I am here.” If sources are to be believed, even Amrit Mathur — advisor to the committee — is also on his way out. He will be sending his papers to the ministry after Diwali.
As reported by Express, most of the athletes are not happy the way the TOP scheme is being handled. Even Malhotra, a key member in the committee, felt the ministry has flouted the very norms for which it was created. “It was created to reduce red-tapism so that the athletes can concentrate on practice,” she said.
“That has not happened. Ministry’s responsibility does not end after handing over a cheque. There has to be proper monitoring and that’s not happening. It was supposed to be less transactional. And we were brought in because we knew more about the athletes. The selection part is very transparent but that is not everything.”
More importantly, she said, it’s about what the athletes are doing and how they are benefitting from the scheme. “If they are complaining, there must be something wrong.”
Not just Malhotra, others have also raised questions about the monitoring of committee’s selections, especially in athletics. “If SAI was capable, then we would not have come into the picture,” said another member. “There was need in the structure that the ministry and the SAI were unable to meet.”
Scoffing rumours that he was forced to resign, Thakur said: “There was no pressure from anyone for me to resign. When I took charge, they told me I need to work with SAI and identify talent that can bring laurels to the country in Olympics. It needs a lot of dedicated time. Three months back I told the sports minister it would be tough for me to do so. He asked me to continue and because he is a good friend, I continued. Also being the secretary of BCCI, there’s hardly any time for other things.” The sports minister has called for a review meeting on Friday. Whether it is an internal gathering or a meeting involving all stakeholders, the committee members have been kept in the dark. It has been learnt the ministry might decide to shift the responsibility of TOPS to SAI, which will be monitored by its DG Injeti Srinivas.