Heena Sidhu: Ministry officials think that it’s very easy to win an Olympic medal

New Delhi: Heena Sidhu, who has won a Olympic quota place on Wednesday by finishing at the top of Asian qualifiers, hit out at the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched by sports ministry.

Sidhu criticised the ministry by claiming that even if she ended up winning 100 medals for the country, the ministry’s attitude won’t change, as per a report published in DNA.

“The ministry officials think that it’s very easy to win an Olympic medal. They believe that not much preparation is needed to qualify for the Olympics, World Championships or any other major international tournament.

“I have spent a sum of Rs 55 lakh on my Rio Olympic preparation, but the ministry has only disbursed Rs 30 lakh so far,” Sidhu was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The 26-year-old Patiala-born girl also said that she would soon start preparing for Rio Games without her husband-cum-coach Ronak Pandit as he wouldn’t be there at the Rio Games to guide her. “The ministry may stop him from accompanying me but not me from performing well,” she added.

Earlier, ace Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra had said the government should have implemented the TOPS in a better way. “It’s a well-meaning scheme, but it’s just that the delivery is a problem.”