SAI realigned TOPS division control over 27 Olympic sports

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has reorganized its day-to-day operations and entrusted the NS Johal division under the leadership of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) with responsibility for 27 Olympic sports. The division has also been asked to address issues related to governance in national federations whenever directed by the Ministry of Sports.As per the orders of sports secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, who is also the director general of SAI, the TOPS division will now serve as the main point of contact between SAI and the respective National Sports Federations (NSFs).Johal, who already heads the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), will continue to oversee TAGG as a sub-group under TOPS.TOPS was launched in 2014 to support elite athletes in planning training and competition in priority sports such as boxing, badminton and athletics.In the new structure, TOPS will fully supervise water sports, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, horse riding, fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, skateboarding, sport climbing, squash, surfing and table tennis, taekwondo, wrestling, wrestling, wrestling.The order stated that TOPS would act as the “primary interface” between the SAI and the respective NSFs, associations and stakeholders for the assigned sports.The division will also deal with governance issues referred by the Department, along with development proposals and NSF budget matters related to these disciplines.TOPS was also given the responsibility of coordinating India’s participation in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Youth Olympic Games, Asian Youth Games and Asian Beach Games.The Training of Elite Athletes and Management Support Division (TEAMS), also under Johal, will handle operations related to non-TOPS disciplines, including para sports, winter sports and non-Olympic disciplines.Johal is a former Olympic sailor.The TEAMS Division will also coordinate National Sports Awards and functions related to Republic Day, Rashtrapati Bhawan and Prime Minister’s Office.