The biggest beneficiary is double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi (pictured) who has been granted Rs 97.37 lakhs (£131,093/$206,746/€151,606) after winning two silver medals at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Among other shooters, former world champion Manavjit Singh Sandhu has received Rs 91.95 lakhs (£123,796/$195,238/€143,180), while Mansher Singh has been allocated Rs 47.25 lakhs (£63,614/$100,325/€73,568).

India's top ranked tennis player Somdev Devvarman has received Rs 39.60 lakhs (£53,315/$84,083/€61,658), while fellow tennis players Sania Mirza, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, Sanam Singh and Atlanta 1992 Olympic bronze medallist Leander Paes have received Rs 36.96 lakhs (£49,760/$78,476/€57,547) each.

India finished 50th on the medal table at the Beijing 2008 Olympics as they won gold through shooter Abhinav Bindra and two bronze medals through freestyle wrestler Sushil Kumar and boxer Vijender Singh.

The assistance sanctioned is towards extensive training abroad, engagement of personal coaches both foreign and Indian, competitions and exposure abroad, scientific back-up in terms of sports psychologists, physiotherapists and masseurs.

The sports receiving funding are shooting, athletics, tennis, gymnastics.

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