NEW DELHI: Young athletes training at Delhi govt sports centres and stadiums will receive a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 under a new grassroots component of the Mukhyamantri Khel Protsahan Yojana, approved by Delhi Cabinet Thursday.The new ‘Grassroots Training Support Assistance’ component will cover athletes in the Under-14, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 categories.Under the scheme, assistance will be provided to up to 25% of regularly enrolled trainees at each sports centre or stadium. A maximum of 100 athletes at a centre will be covered, though the limit may be increased to 150 at larger stadiums.The move expands the existing Mukhyamantri Khel Protsahan Yojana, under which top-ranked school-level athletes can receive up to Rs 5 lakh annually for coaching, equipment, competitions, nutrition and other training requirements. Elite athletes representing Delhi and India at the highest level are eligible for assistance of up to Rs 20 lakh a year.Sports minister Ashish Sood said Delhi has no shortage of sporting talent and that financial constraints should not come in the way of promising athletes pursuing their sporting ambitions.
