Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya officially felicitated ISSF World Cup gold medallists Esha Singh and Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda in New Delhi. Neeru Dhanda scripted history in Lonato, Italy, as the first Indian woman trap shooter to win an ISSF World Cup gold, setting a national qualification record of 121/125. Esha Singh secured gold in the women's 25m pistol event in Hangzhou, China, marking her second World Cup gold of the year in this category. The felicitation highlights India’s sports governance programs like TOPS and Khelo India aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya hosted an official felicitation ceremony in New Delhi to honor international shooting champions Esha Singh and Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda. Both athletes achieved historic victories at recent International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup legs. The Sports Ministry reiterated its commitment to providing comprehensive financial, technical, and scientific assistance to Indian shooters as part of long-term Olympic preparation strategies.
The felicitation took place on July 30, 2026, at the Sports Ministry headquarters in New Delhi. Neeru Dhanda’s landmark performance occurred at the ISSF World Cup stage in Lonato, Italy. Esha Singh achieved her victory at the ISSF World Cup stage in Hangzhou, China. These victories position India strongly in the international shooting circuit ahead of major multi-sport events like the 2026 Asian Games.
1. Athlete Identification: Shooters are identified through national trials, state championships, and grassroots initiatives such as the Khelo India Youth Games.
2. Induction into Schemes: Top performers are inducted into either the TOPS Core Group (for immediate Olympic contenders) or the TOPS Development Group (for upcoming talent).
3. Scientific Training & Exposure: Selected athletes receive customized coaching, sports science support, equipment funding, and foreign exposure trips through the National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs).
4. Outcomes: Benchmarking performance against world standards at ISSF World Cups and World Championships ensures qualification quotas for Olympic Games.
India has emerged as an international shooting powerhouse alongside nations like China, USA, and Italy. In global ISSF rankings, India consistently ranks among the top three nations in overall medal tallies across pistol, rifle, and shotgun disciplines.
Core Concept: Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) & Sports Governance in India
Q1. Neeru Dhanda, who recently made history by winning an ISSF World Cup gold medal in the women's trap event, belongs to which Indian state? [Easy]
A) Punjab
B) Rajasthan
C) Haryana
D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: C
Explanation: Neeru Dhanda hails from Jind district in Haryana and serves as a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army.
Q2. Where is the headquarters of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) located? [Easy]
A) Lausanne, Switzerland
B) Munich, Germany
C) Paris, France
D) Vienna, Austria
Answer: B
Explanation: The ISSF was founded in 1907 and its global headquarters is situated in Munich, Germany.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): [Moderate]
1. It was launched in 2014 under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
2. It provides customized support and monthly out-of-pocket allowances to selected athletes.
3. It is administered directly by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) without government oversight.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: A
Explanation: Statement 1 and 2 are correct; statement 3 is incorrect because TOPS is administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Mission Olympic Cell.
Q4. Esha Singh, who clinched the women's 25m pistol gold at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, represents which Indian state in regional events? [Moderate]
A) Andhra Pradesh
B) Telangana
C) Karnataka
D) Tamil Nadu
Answer: B
Explanation: Esha Singh is a renowned international shooter hailing from Hyderabad, Telangana.
Q5. The Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU), which has produced several international champion shooters including Neeru Dhanda, is stationed at which location? [Moderate]
A) Dehradun, Uttarakhand
B) Mhow, Madhya Pradesh
C) Pune, Maharashtra
D) Bengaluru, Karnataka
Answer: B
Explanation: The premier Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) is established at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh.
Q6. With reference to sports governance in India, consider the following statements: [Tricky]
1. 'Sports' is explicitly included in the Union List (List I) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
2. The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was established under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890.
3. Athletes in the TOPS Core Group receive a monthly Out-of-Pocket Allowance (OPA) alongside tailored technical assistance.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: B
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because 'Sports' falls under Entry 33 of the State List (List II), while Statements 2 and 3 are accurate facts regarding sports administration.
Q7. Which Indian shooter created a new national qualification record of 121 out of 125 in the women's trap event at the ISSF World Cup in Lonato, Italy? [Tricky]
A) Shreyasi Singh
B) Rajeshwari Kumari
C) Neeru Dhanda
D) Manisha Keer
Answer: C
Explanation: Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda set the national qualification record of 121/125 before winning the trap gold in Lonato, Italy.
Q8. Which body within the Sports Authority of India evaluates athlete requirements and approves financial assistance under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)? [Tricky]
A) Governing Body of SAI
B) Mission Olympic Cell (MOC)
C) High Performance Sports Council
D) National Sports Federation Committee
Answer: B
Explanation: The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) is the dedicated body that assesses, approves, and monitors athlete custom training plans under TOPS.
PYQ 1:
With reference to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), consider the following statements:
A) It was created to provide infrastructure development grants directly to state governments.
B) It aims to assist top Indian athletes with specialized training and equipment for Olympic success.
C) It is entirely funded through foreign direct investments in sports technology.
D) It replaces all National Sports Federations in selecting teams for international events.
Answer: B
Explanation: TOPS specifically focuses on identifying and funding elite Indian athletes to secure Olympic podium positions.
PYQ 2:
Consider the following statements regarding international shooting and sports bodies:
1. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is the international governing body for Olympic shooting disciplines.
2. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was established after the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
3. Khelo India Athletes receive support and financial assistance from the central government.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 3 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: B
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct (ISSF governs Olympic shooting); Statement 2 is incorrect (NRAI was established in 1951); Statement 3 is correct (Khelo India provides financial and training support).
PYQ 3:
Match List-I (Athlete) with List-II (Discipline / Association):
List-I:
A. Esha Singh
B. Neeru Dhanda
C. Mansukh Mandaviya
D. Abhinav Bindra
List-II:
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
B) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
C) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
D) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
Answer: A
Explanation: Esha Singh specializes in pistol shooting, Neeru Dhanda in trap shotgun, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya is the Union Sports Minister, and Abhinav Bindra is India's first individual Olympic gold medallist.
Question 1 (150 words): Evaluate the role of targeted state intervention schemes like TOPS and Khelo India in transforming India into a multi-sport nation.
The transformation of India’s sports ecosystem from sporadic individual brilliance to systematic global success is largely driven by targeted state interventions like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India. Launched in 2014, TOPS addresses critical bottlenecks by providing elite athletes with customized coaching, sports science, world-class equipment, and a monthly out-of-pocket allowance. Simultaneously, the Khelo India scheme acts as a robust talent identification pipeline at the grassroots level.
The efficacy of these integrated policies is visible in recent international milestones, such as historic ISSF World Cup gold medals won by shooters Esha Singh and Neeru Dhanda in 2026. Furthermore, institutional support through Army Marksmanship Units and National Centres of Excellence ensures structured career progression. However, to sustain this momentum toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, India must further decentralize sports infrastructure, foster private sector corporate social responsibility (CSR) investments, and expand sports science expertise across regional training hubs.
Question 2 (250 words): Analyze the institutional structural challenges facing sports administration in India. How can policy reforms align India's performance with its global economic and demographic standing by LA 2028?
Despite producing world-class athletes, Indian sports administration faces persistent structural challenges that hinder the realization of its full potential. Historically, sports governance in India has suffered from administrative opacity, delayed funding disbursement, political interference within National Sports Federations (NSFs), and an over-reliance on a few select disciplines like cricket. Furthermore, constitutional categorization under the State List (Entry 33) creates uneven sports infrastructure and training standards across different states.
In recent years, institutional reforms have initiated a positive shift. Interventions such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the implementation of the National Sports Development Code (2011) have introduced professional management through the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) and Sports Authority of India (SAI). The success of athletes like Esha Singh and Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda at the 2026 ISSF World Cups demonstrates how structured state support and military sports institutions (such as the Army Marksmanship Unit) yield world-record performances.
To align India’s Olympic performance with its demographic and economic stature by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, comprehensive policy actions are required. First, passing a statutory National Sports Act can enforce financial accountability, tenure caps, and mandatory athlete representation within all NSFs. Second, shifting sports to the Concurrent List would facilitate unified national planning and joint center-state funding. Third, integrating sports medicine, analytics, and private sports entrepreneurship will build a sustainable elite sports ecosystem.