New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Beijing Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra, and bronze medallists boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar are among the ten ‘Sports Ratna’ athletes who will be provided scholarship support for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China during November.
A Samsung India initiative, ‘Sports Ratna Programme’ is on the lines of Samsung ‘Olympic Ratna Programme’ for the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The programme includes four shooters, four boxers, and two wrestlers.
These athletes will be supported with training expenses during their preparation.
Boxers Vijender Singh, Akhil Kumar, Nanao Singh Thakchom and Suranjoy Singh and wrestlers Sushil and Ramesh Kumar were present at the launch of the programme here Tuesday.
‘We are happy that Samsung has come up with such an initiative. We will be doing our best to get medals for our country,’ Akhil said.
Vijender said the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games won’t wear the players down and they will be ready by the Asian Games.
The list:
Shooters: Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang, Manavjit Singh Sandhu and Ronjan Sodhi
Boxers: Vijender Singh, Akhil Kumar, Nanao Singh Thakchom and Suranjoy Singh
Wrestling: Sushil Kumar and Ramesh Kumar.
