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MOC Approves Foreign Training for Neeraj Chopra and Manu Bhaker Ahead of CWG, Asian Games

The Mission Olympic Cell approved two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra's request for a 47-day off-season training camp in Switzerland ahead of the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Star pistol shooter Manu Bhaker also received approval for foreign training in Lucca, Italy, to prepare for the upcoming events. The proposals cover travel, accommodation, and other costs for the athletes and their support teams. Additionally, long-distance runner Gulveer Singh's foreign training and competition exposure in the United States was also approved.

Key Points: MOC Approves Foreign Training for Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker

  • MOC approves 47-day training camp for Neeraj Chopra in Switzerland
  • Foreign training approved for Manu Bhaker in Lucca, Italy
  • Chopra to prepare for CWG and Asian Games with coach and physiotherapist
  • Manu Bhaker to compete in women's air pistol events at Asian Games
2 min read

MOC approves foreign training for Olympic medallists Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker ahead of CWG, Asian Games

Mission Olympic Cell approves 47-day training for Neeraj Chopra in Switzerland and foreign training for Manu Bhaker in Italy ahead of CWG and Asian Games.

"Neeraj will be looking to replicate his stupendous record in both competitions, as he has won gold in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and consecutive gold medals in the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games. - Sports Authority of India"

New Delhi, May 13

With the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games around the corner, the Mission Olympic Cell approved two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra's request for a 47-day off-season training camp in Switzerland during its 173rd meeting on Wednesday.

On the other hand, along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the MOC approved foreign training for star pistol shooter Manu Bhaker in Lucca, Italy.

According to a press release, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) core athlete, who is rehabilitating from a back injury in Turkey, will train at the Olympic Training Centre in Bienne from May 25 to July 10 as preparation for the two mega multi-discipline events, according to a release from the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The Commonwealth Games will be staged in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, while the Asian Games will be organised in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.

Neeraj will be looking to replicate his stupendous record in both competitions, as he has won gold in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and consecutive gold medals in the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games. The 28-year-old from Haryana will be accompanied by his long-time physiotherapist, Ishaan Marwaha and coach Jai Choudhary.

The proposal covers travel and accommodation costs of the three-member team, including airfare, hotel expenses, food, visa, extra baggage allowance for javelin and treatment bed, medical insurance and out-of-pocket allowance of USD 25 per day for 47 days, among others.

Chaired by Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports) - Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the MOC approved foreign training for star pistol shooter Manu Bhaker in Lucca, Italy, from May 13 to 22. The 24-year-old will be accompanied by her coach, Jaspal Rana and physiotherapist Snehil Khurana. The proposal covers travel and accommodation costs of the three-member team, besides range charges, among others.

Manu, who is a double Olympic medallist at Paris 2024, will be competing in women's 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events at the 2026 Asian Games and is a strong medal contender.

The MOC also gave a go-ahead to long-distance runner Gulveer Singh's proposal for foreign training and competition exposure, along with his coach, in the United States from May 15 to June 17 (34 days). Gulveer, an Asian Games bronze medallist at the 2022 Hangzhou and gold medal winner in the 5000m and 10,000m races at the Asian Championships, will compete in top races in Los Angeles and Nashville, respectively.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

J
Jennifer L
Great to see the government investing in our top athletes. Manu Bhaker's recovery from back injury and training in Italy shows real commitment. But honestly, I wish we had similar world-class training facilities within India so we don't have to send everyone abroad every time. Need to develop our own sports infrastructure.
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Arjun K
Neeraj Chopra is a true inspiration! From winning gold at Tokyo 2020 to consistently performing at world stage. This training camp in Switzerland should help him prepare well for the upcoming competitions. Jai Ho! 💪 Also good to see Gulveer Singh getting support, he's been quietly doing great in long distance events.
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Sarah B
While I'm happy for our athletes, I wonder about the cost. 3-member teams for each athlete with flights and accommodation for 47 days must run into crores. Is there any accountability or performance-linked clause? We need to ensure this investment translates into medals, not just a nice foreign trip.
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Rohan X
Finally some good news for Indian sports! Manu Bhaker bouncing back from injury and training abroad is a positive sign. And Neeraj Chopra with his coach and physiotherapist - that's the kind of professional support our athletes need. Hope they bring gold from both CWG and Asian Games! 🤞🇮🇳
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Kavya N
This is what a proper sports ecosystem looks like. Neeraj has been training with world-class facilities abroad for years and look at his results - Olympic and World Champion. Manu too after her Paris bronze. These are medal bets, so investment is justified. But I hope other upcoming athletes also get similar opportunities based on merit.

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