Hockey players finally get an out-of-pocket allowance after years of waiting

Indian Hockey Players Finally Receive Out-of-Pocket Allowance

New Delhi: For years, a disparity existed where Indian hockey's national team players, both men and women, were not entitled to an out-of-pocket allowance (OPA) under the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

Indian Hockey team

Since the inception of TOPS in September 2014, athletes from various other sports have benefited from a monthly stipend provided by the sports ministry. However, this benefit was not extended to hockey players until recently.

This discrepancy was addressed during a recent Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting. The 156th governing council meeting of the MOC approved an OPA of Rs 25,000 per month for national campers of both the men's and women's hockey teams, acting upon a request from Hockey India (HI), the sport's national federation.

A total of 80 players, evenly split between men and women (40 each), will receive this allowance, which is typically provided to athletes within the developmental group of TOPS. Athletes in the core group of TOPS already receive a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000. According to a ministry official, this allowance for hockey players will cost the government Rs 20 lakh per month.

“Hockey India requested the allowance for some time, and we have approved the request. The players have performed well, and this allowance is being granted on merit," said sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday.

The federation will be required to submit a list of eligible players to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) each month to facilitate the disbursement of funds.

The men's team's consistent performance, including back-to-back bronze medals at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the subsequent Paris Games, along with a gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, were key factors in considering the OPA. The women's team also made a mark by finishing a commendable fourth in Tokyo. Currently, both teams are competing in the European leg of the FIH Pro League.

A ministry official also stated that the MOC approved proposals worth Rs 4.28 crore from athletes, including Rs 1.38 crore in financial assistance for tennis players Saketh Myneni and Jeevan Nedu.