Year End Review 2018 - Department of Sports (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports)
iasparliament
December 13, 2018
How has it been for India in sports in 2018?
The year 2018 has turned out to be the landmark for India in terms of achievements in Sports arena.
Commonwealth Games, 2018 - 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia was India's 18th appearance at the Commonwealth Games.
With 66 Medals, India finished 3rd for the tournament. It was India's best position since the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Asian Games, 2018, and Para Asian Games, 2018 - India put a commendable performance in Asian Games 2018 at Jakarta and Palembang (Indonesia).
With 69 medals, India was placed at 8th position in medals tally.
With 72 medals, India finished overall 9th, the highest ever by India at an Asian Para Game, outdoing the previous best by a huge margin.
Youth Olympic Games - India finished overall 14th in the medals tally, in Youth Olympic Game (YOG) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
With 13 medals, outdoing the previous best, this was the highest ever by India at YOG.
2018 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships - It was held in New Delhi, where Mary Kom of India beat Ukrainian boxer Hana Okhota to win the gold in the light flyweight category.
She became the first woman boxer to win six gold medals in the AIBA (International Boxing Association) World Boxing Championships.
India stood 3rd in the medal tally with one gold, one silver and two bronze.
What are the major support initiatives?
National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) - NSDF was established with the objective of promotion of excellence in sports through support to top level sportspersons and creation of sports infrastructure in priority disciplines.
India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) made contribution of Rs.10.00 Crore to the NSDF.
The IIFCL contribution is being utilized for promotion of sports in the disciplines Badminton, Archery and Para Sports.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy - The Union Sports Minister approved the revised guidelines for MAKA Trophy.
It was to rationalize and simplify the selection of top performing university in sports for award of MAKA Trophy.
The amount of award money for the overall all winner university has been enhanced from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh.
Pension - Pension to meritorious sportspersons was revised for the welfare of Sportspersons.
The rate of pension has been doubled of the existing rate of pension on winning medals in international sports events.
The rate of pension of medal winners in the Para-Olympics Games and Para Asian Games will be at par with winners in the Olympic Games and Asian Games respectively.
Scholarship programme under Khelo India - More than 1100 players were identified for a scholarship programme under Khelo India Talent Identification Development scheme.
Under this programme, an annual stipend of Rs. 1.2 lakhs will be given to the players on a quarterly.
It is designed to take care of their expenses on training, development, boarding and lodging and tournament exposure apart from offering them out of pocket expense allowance.
Financial Assistance - The Ministry is operating Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS).
It is to assist outstanding sportspersons of the past who had brought glory to the country, living in impoverished circumstances.
Special (Cash) Awards - It is a Scheme of Special (Cash) Awards to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches.
A total of around Rs. 11 crore has been given to winning sportspersons during 2018-19 so far.
What are the institutional and promotional programmes?
Government has taken up a two pronged approach to sports –
nurture top sports talent
find untapped sports stars at the grassroots
Khelo India School Games (KISG), 2018 - 1st Khelo India School Games, 2018 were held with participation from all States and Union Territories.
Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana outshined others.
More than 1100 sports talents have been identified; they will be imparted training for next 8 years with annual expenditure on each athlete of Rs. 5 lakh.
Republic Day Parade Tableau of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports was adjudged the best among all Ministries.
Theme of the Tableau of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports was Khelo India.
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) - NADA put it efforts during the 1st Khelo India School Games, Delhi.
It ensured that sports integrity is maintained and the participating sportspersons become aware of International Standards on it.
A total of 377 dope tests were conducted by NADA to make the school games dope free.
NADA also tested as many as 498 Indian Athletes prior to Asian Games, the largest testing conducted by NADA before any international games.
To monitor the Code Compliance activities, World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) audit team audited anti doping program of NADA, India last year.
Followed by Corrective Action Report recommended by WADA's audit team, NADA has implemented the corrective action.
As per the annual statistics report published by WADA, the number of anti doping rule violation in India has come down, bringing India from 3rd to 6th place globally.
National Sports University, Manipur - The National Sports University Act, 2018 came into place for establishing a National Sports University in Manipur.
It will be the first of its kind to promote sports education (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programmes) in sports sciences, sports technology, sports management and sports coaching.
Besides, it will also function as the national training centre for select sports disciplines, by adopting best international practices.
National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR) - The scheme aims to support high level research, education and innovation with respect to high performance of elite athletes.
The scheme has two components-
setting up of NCSSR at NIS, Patiala
creation of support to Sports Sciences Department in select Universities and Sports Medicine Departments in select Medical Colleges/ Institutes/ Hospitals
National Sports & Adventure Awards 2018 :
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - to S. Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting) and Virat Kohli (Cricket)
Dronacharya Award, Arjuna Award and Dhyan Chand Award - to 32 sportspersons/coaches in various disciplines
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award - to 10 persons in categories of Land Adventure, Water Adventure and one award to Life Time Achievement category
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy - to Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar to three (3) entities -
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited in 'Identification and Nurturing of Budding & Young Talent' category
JSW Steel in 'Encouragement to Sports through Corporate Social Responsibility'
Isha Foundation in category of 'Sports for Development'
Kho Kho - Participation of Kho Kho team from India at the First International Kho Kho Championship in England was approved with financial support from the Government.
The approval was given for the first time in relaxation of existing guidelines.
Notably, sports disciplines like Kho Kho are categorised as “Others” which will not be eligible for financial support for participation in International sporting events.
PG Diploma course - The Ministry has funded and guided Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak to commence a 2-year Post-Graduate Diploma course in Business Management in Sports.
This is to strengthen the overall sports ecosystem in the country and to develop expertise in various sectors.
