More than 9 cr spent from NSDF since 1998

The sum includes the amount of money spent on the training of 30 sportspersons last year, including India`s lone individual Olympic gold medalist shooter Abhinav Bindra, on whom Rs 13,12,355 was spend by the sports ministry.

Others who trained under the sports ministry`s financial assistance last year were shooters Manavjit Singh, Mansher Singh and Ronjan Sodhi, tennis players Somdev Devvarman, Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri and Mahesh Bhupathi, shuttler Anup Sridhar, athletes Om Prakash Singh Karhana, Krishna Poonia, Vikas Gowda, Mayookha Johny, Preeja Sreedharan, Kavita Raut, O P Jaisha and Sudha Singh.

Usha School of Athletics in Kerala, meanwhile, received Rs 4,92,00,000 for laying an athletics track.

The Sports Ministry also gave away pensions to 32 sportspersons and ex-gratia assistance to 44 in the last three years under the Scheme of National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons.

This includes the amount handed to 13 members of the Indian football team, that participated in 1960 Rome Olympics, including the likes of P K Banerjee and Chuni Goswami, who received Rs 1,50,000 each.