How India Funds an Olympic Medal: TOPS and Khelo India

TOPS funds medal prospects directly: training, foreign camps, coaches, kit and a monthly out-of-pocket allowance.

TOPS has two tiers — a Core group of medal hopefuls and a Development group of younger talent.

Khelo India is the feeder layer: talent scouting, school/university games and multi-year scholarships.

The realistic ladder is Khelo India scholarship to NCOE training to TOPS Core group to the Games.

Most of India's Paris 2024 medallists were funded athletes — the pipeline, not luck, is doing the work.