The TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) 2026 is India’s most powerful and most financially substantial sports scholarship programme — and for elite athletes in Badminton, Hockey, and all other Olympic disciplines, it represents the government’s most direct financial commitment to producing Olympic and Paralympic medallists for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Games and beyond.
Unlike the Khelo India scholarship (₹5 lakh/year for developing athletes) or the SAI Annual Sports Scholarship (₹3–7.5 lakh/year for national performers), TOPS is an elite athlete-specific programme with no fixed upper funding limit — individual athlete support packages have exceeded ₹50 lakh per year when foreign coaching, international competition travel, and specialised equipment are combined.
This guide covers TOPS in depth — alongside the sport-specific scholarship and funding schemes available to Badminton and Hockey athletes — and maps the complete financial support landscape for every Olympic discipline’s serious practitioners in India.
What Is TOPS — The Definitive Explanation
Target Olympic Podium Scheme was launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and is administered by the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) within SAI. Its mandate is singular and explicit: fund Indian athletes who have a realistic probability of winning Olympic or Paralympic medals.
TOPS operates on two tiers:
Tier 1 — Mission Olympic Wing (MOW)
For athletes with confirmed international ranking within realistic medal contention range for the next Olympic Games.
| Support Component | Typical Annual Value |
|---|---|
| Foreign coaching (specialist coaches from world’s best programmes) | ₹15,00,000–₹40,00,000 |
| International competition travel (8–15 international events per year) | ₹8,00,000–₹20,00,000 |
| Specialised equipment (world-class, often custom-built) | ₹5,00,000–₹25,00,000 |
| Sports science (biomechanics, physiology, altitude camps) | ₹5,00,000–₹15,00,000 |
| Monthly personal allowance | ₹50,000–₹1,00,000/month |
| Total Annual Package (typical) | ₹33,00,000–₹1,00,00,000+ |
Tier 2 — Development Group
For athletes aged 15–25 who show exceptional potential for the Olympic cycle beyond the immediate next Games — identified as future podium aspirants.
| Component | Annual Value |
|---|---|
| Training support at SAI NCoE | ₹10,00,000–₹20,00,000 equivalent |
| National and international competition funding | ₹4,00,000–₹10,00,000 |
| Monthly allowance | ₹25,000–₹50,000/month |
| Equipment support | ₹2,00,000–₹8,00,000 |
| Total Annual Package | ₹16,00,000–₹38,00,000 |
TOPS for Badminton Athletes — The Complete Picture
Why Badminton Has Exceptionally Strong TOPS Support
Badminton is India’s highest Olympic medal probability sport in 2026 — following PV Sindhu’s two Olympic medals, Chirag-Satwik’s World No. 1 doubles ranking, and India’s consistently strong performances on the BWF World Tour. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has historically allocated the highest per-athlete TOPS support budget to badminton of any racquet sport in India.
Current Badminton TOPS Structure 2026
Mission Olympic Wing (MOW) — Senior Badminton:
- Players with BWF World Ranking in top 15 (singles) or top 10 (doubles)
- Full TOPS package — foreign coaching, international circuit funding, specialised equipment, sports science
- Typical annual package: ₹35,00,000–₹80,00,000
Development Group — Junior to Senior Badminton:
- Players aged 15–22 with strong national junior rankings
- BWF Junior World Championship / Asian Junior Championship performers
- Typical annual package: ₹18,00,000–₹35,00,000
BAI (Badminton Association of India) — Additional Support
Alongside TOPS, the Badminton Association of India provides:
- BAI High Performance Programme: Top 50 Indian ranked players receive BAI funding for foreign coaching and tournament travel beyond TOPS provisions
- BAI Junior National Stipend: ₹10,000–₹25,000 per month for U-17 and U-19 national squad members
- BAI Academies (12 across India): Free coaching and facility access at BAI-approved coaching centres in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Gopichand Academy (Hyderabad), and nine more locations
Gopichand Badminton Academy — The Premier Pathway
Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, Hyderabad is not a scholarship programme per se — but the most direct pathway to TOPS badminton support. Athletes trained here have produced multiple Olympians. The academy offers subsidised and scholarship training slots for talented U-14, U-17, and U-19 athletes identified through BAI district and state tournaments. Contact: gopichandbadmintonacademy.com
TOPS for Hockey Athletes — Complete Coverage
India’s Hockey Renaissance and TOPS Investment
India men’s hockey won Olympic Bronze at Paris 2024 — ending a 41-year Olympic medal drought. The women’s team also reached the Paris 2024 quarterfinals. This performance elevation has significantly increased TOPS funding allocation for hockey in the 2026–2028 LA Olympic cycle.
Hockey TOPS Structure 2026
Mission Olympic Wing — National Senior Hockey Team Members:
- Full TOPS package covering foreign coaching (typically Dutch or Australian coaches), international tournament travel, and high-altitude training camps
- Typical annual package per player: ₹25,00,000–₹55,00,000
Development Group — Junior Hockey:
- Junior World Cup and Asian Youth Games squad members
- Annual package: ₹15,00,000–₹28,00,000
Hockey India — Additional Scholarship and Support Structure
Hockey India League (HIL) Salary: The revival of the HIL — India’s domestic hockey league — provides elite players additional annual income of ₹15,00,000–₹50,00,000 depending on auction value, in addition to TOPS support.
Hockey India Junior Development Programme:
- Sub-junior (U-16) and junior (U-21) national squad members receive monthly stipend from Hockey India: ₹8,000–₹20,000/month
- Plus fully funded residential training at SAI NCoE Lucknow and Bhopal hockey centres
Sports Hostel Scheme — Hockey: SAI operates dedicated hockey sports hostels in Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand — providing free residential hockey training to talented U-14 and U-16 athletes from economically weaker backgrounds. This is the most important financial access point for hockey talent from rural and tribal communities.
TOPS for All Olympic Sports — Sport-by-Sport Overview
Athletics (Track and Field)
MOW Athletes: Neeraj Chopra-level performers with World Athletics ranking in medal contention — annual TOPS package ₹40,00,000–₹90,00,000.
Development Group: Athletes who have cleared A or B standards for international competitions, U-20 World Athletics Championship performers — annual package ₹15,00,000–₹30,00,000.
AFI (Athletics Federation of India) Scholarship: Top-50 ranked Indian athletes receive AFI’s direct financial support for training and competition — separate from TOPS.
Boxing
Strong TOPS allocation following India’s consistent Olympic boxing performances. Development programme at SAI NCoE Patiala is among the best funded residential boxing programmes in Asia.
Development Group eligibility: National Youth (U-22) or Junior (U-19) championship medallists. Monthly stipend at NCoE Patiala plus competition funding.
Shooting
India’s largest TOPS beneficiary sport by number of athletes — given the sport’s strong World Cup and Asian Games performance record. NRAI (National Rifle Association of India) coordinates TOPS nominations for shooters. Development athletes get ammunition, range fees, coaching, and competition costs covered.
Wrestling
SAI NCoE Patiala houses India’s best wrestling infrastructure. TOPS development group covers athletes who have won at Commonwealth or Asian level. State-level Haryana government also provides independent wrestling scholarships of ₹5,000–₹50,000 per month for medalists at national and international levels.
Weightlifting
IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) ranking-based TOPS allocation. Development group covers athletes 15–22 years competing at Youth World Championships and Asian Weightlifting Championships. Manipur and Mizoram state governments provide additional support for weightlifters — historically India’s northeast produces an outsized share of Olympic weightlifting talent.
How to Get Into TOPS — The Pathway
TOPS is a nomination-based system — there is no public application form. The pathway is performance and institutional nomination:
Step 1 — Establish National Level Performance Compete at National Championship or National Youth/Junior Championship in your sport. Medal at minimum; top-8 finish for many sports.
Step 2 — Register with Your National Sports Federation (NSF) Every Olympic sport has an NSF — BAI for badminton, Hockey India, AFI for athletics, etc. Register as an athlete member. Participate in all NSF-organised selection trials.
Step 3 — NSF Nominates to Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) Based on national championship results, international rankings, and coach recommendations — the NSF nominates athletes for TOPS consideration to the Mission Olympic Cell at SAI.
Step 4 — MOC Evaluation The MOC evaluates nominations against Olympic medal probability metrics: world ranking trajectory, age relative to Olympic cycle, competition history, and physical profiling data from sports science assessment.
Step 5 — TOPS Activation Selected athletes receive a personalised Annual Training Plan (ATP) with specific financial components — foreign coaching, competition calendar, equipment list — approved on a case-by-case basis.
State Government Sports Scholarships — Olympic Sports Supplement
Several state governments provide additional financial support to TOPS and Khelo India athletes — compounding total support:
| State | Scheme | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Haryana | Haryana Sports Scholarship Policy | ₹25,000–₹3,00,000 |
| Odisha | Odisha Hockey Scholarship (+ sponsors) | ₹2,00,000–₹10,00,000 |
| Manipur | Manipur Sports Award | ₹25,000–₹1,50,000 |
| Punjab | Punjab Sports Promotion Award | ₹30,000–₹2,00,000 |
| Maharashtra | Shiv Chhatrapati Award + scholarship | ₹50,000–₹3,00,000 |
| Telangana | Telangana Sports Authority support | ₹25,000–₹1,50,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can a 15-year-old badminton player apply for TOPS directly? There is no direct application for TOPS at any age. A 15-year-old should compete at BAI sub-junior and junior national tournaments, get registered at a BAI-approved coaching academy, and let performance create the visibility that triggers NSF nomination to TOPS Development Group. The Gopichand Academy and BAI’s 12 academies are the primary talent pathways.
Q2. Does TOPS support indoor hockey as well as field hockey? TOPS covers field hockey exclusively — the Olympic format. Indoor hockey does not generate TOPS funding. Roller hockey athletes should contact their respective national federation (RHAI) for federation-specific support schemes.
Q3. Is there a TOPS equivalent for athletes in non-Olympic sports? For sports outside the Olympic programme — Khelo India scholarship (₹5 lakh/year) and SAI Annual Sports Scholarship are the primary government support mechanisms. TOPS is exclusively for Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is evaluating expansion to Commonwealth Games-only sports — but no confirmed extension was in place as of 2026.
Q4. How does an Odisha-based hockey player access state support alongside TOPS? Odisha is India’s most significant hockey supporting state government. Athletes selected for the national hockey squad who are domiciled in Odisha receive support from Odisha Hockey (the state association and corporate sponsorship body) in addition to TOPS — creating some of the highest total financial support packages available to any Indian hockey player. Contact Hockey India (hockeyindia.org) and Odisha Hockey simultaneously.
Final Verdict
The TOPS Scheme 2026 for Badminton, Hockey, and all Olympic sports represents India’s most serious financial commitment to athletic excellence — with individual packages reaching ₹1 crore per year for elite medal aspirants. The pathway is entirely performance-driven. No form substitutes for a national championship medal or an international ranking position.
For young athletes in these sports — focus on performing at NSF-organised national competitions, enroll at SAI-affiliated training centres or sport-specific academies, and let the institutional nomination system do its work.
Keep visiting career.edutueii.in for the latest TOPS selection announcements, BAI scholarship updates, Hockey India development programme notifications, SAI NCoE admission openings, and all Olympic sports scholarship opportunities for Indian athletes in 2026.