The Sports Ministry on Tuesday named an eight-member task force - including former sportspersons Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand and Viren Rasquina - which has been given the mandate of preparing India's roadmap for the next three Olympic Games.
The other members of the committee are hockey coach S Baldev Singh, Sandeep Pradhan, DG Sports Authority of India Gujarat, Times Group online chief editor Rajesh Kalra, Om Pathak from School Sports Promotion Foundation, and Prof GL Khanna of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Manav Rachna International University (Faridabad).
The committee has been entrusted with the task of sketching out a comprehensive plan and laying down measures, both long and short term, for the 2020, 2024 and 2028 Olympics. The committee can also seek assistance from sports experts. The tenure of the committee will be for three months or till the time it submits its report, whichever is earlier.
After India's underwhelming show at the Rio Games last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, in August, announced that the government would set up a task force for preparing the overall strategy for sports training, facility, selection procedure and related issues.
Some key terms of reference for the committee are as follows:
* To suggest effective talent identification system for 2024 and 2028 Olympics.
* To identify components of world class support system for elite sportspersons and lay down the pathway.
* To suggest ways to significantly improve the standards of coaching and sports scientists within the country.
* To suggest ways to create and upgrade sports infrastructure necessary to train top-level athletes.
* To offer suggestions regarding foreign training and exposure for top-level athletes.